Excavación arqueológica en el castillo de Valtierra. Campaña 2023 [Archaeological excavation at Valtierra castle. 2023 campaign]

Abstract

In the 2023 excavation campaign, excavation continued in the same place as the previous year, defining the two stages of Andalusian settlement recorded in earlier campaigns. The first, supposedly built in the 9th century, is characterised by large rooms, between 12 and 17 m2, with walls in whose bonding there is a predominance of opus spicatum. The second stage was based on the elimination of most of the first phase structures, performing levelling and terracing work to conceal the previous urban layout, building new walls with larger bonding. This second phase likely began in the mid-11th century and went on until the settlement was brought down following the Christian conquest to give way to the construction of the castle. Both stages describe a domestic-style urban layout organised around interior courtyards, no streets or accesses having been identified as of yet.