Esta obra colectiva aborda la cuestión económica en al-Andalus como nexo de los diferentes estudios. Este tema, tradicionalmente relegado a un segundo plano, merece destacarse para comprender el devenir histórico de al-Andalus, pues la... more
Esta obra colectiva aborda la cuestión económica en al-Andalus como nexo de los diferentes estudios. Este tema, tradicionalmente relegado a un segundo plano, merece destacarse para comprender el devenir histórico de al-Andalus, pues la economía lo impregna todo. Y esto en un sentido amplio, no considerando solamente las actividades productivas y comerciales, sino también las formas que tienen los colectivos de organizarse dentro de un contexto territorial o medioambiental, e incluso la arquitectura que desarrollan para poder vivir. Agricultura, ganadería, minería, emisiones monetarias, cerámica, vidrio, textiles, conforman aspectos clave para poder comprender la vida cotidiana en al-Andalus.
Research Interests: Archaeology, Islamic Economics, Islamic Archaeology, Medieval History, Archaeobotany, and 15 morePottery (Archaeology), Archaeozoology, Numismatics, Medieval Archaeology, Islamic Studies, Al-Andalus, Glass (Archaeology), Al Andalus (Islamic History), Arqueología, Al-Andalus History, Arqueologia Medieval, Arqueozoología, Numismatica, Arqueología Islámica, and Arqueobotánica
Gilotte S., Preiss S., « Le grenier médiéval d’Aschères-le-Marché. Indices carpologiques d’une petite unité agricole du centre de la France (Loiret) », Ruralia VIII. Processing, Storage, Distribution of Food. Food in the Medieval Rural Environment, J. Klápšte, P. Sommer (éds.), Brepols & Publishers, 2011, p. 113-126.more
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We use a review of paleopalinological data as a way to understand the historical changes in the exploitation of the territory in the south of the Iberian Peninsula, especially in the Middle Ages. On the one hand, we demonstrate its... more
We use a review of paleopalinological data as a way to understand the historical changes in the exploitation of the territory in the south of the Iberian Peninsula, especially in the Middle Ages. On the one hand, we demonstrate its usefulness to detect the landscape changes linked with the emergence of new population centers (Medina Azahara) or the effects of deep modifications of the urban systems at a regional scale (Merida-Badajoz). Furthermore, a compilation of available data for the eastern Andalusia mountains allows us to verify its importance as an alternative way to determine the spatial and temporal variations in the intensity of livestock farming, and relate them with the historical context.
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The Albalat site (in present-day Extremadura) entertained its last period of activity in the first half of the 12th century, with a wellstructured Islamized community and a strong military character due to its border situation with the... more
The Albalat site (in present-day Extremadura) entertained its last period of activity in the first half of the 12th century, with a wellstructured
Islamized community and a strong military character due to its border situation with the Christian kingdoms.One of the challenges proposed by this work is to evaluate the impact of the hypothetical economic wear and tear that a latent warlike environment could bring about through the faunistic record. In addition to informing about the exploitation of the
natural environment, the hunting and fishing resources show how some were integrated into artisanal activities that coexisted with agriculture and livestock that, as in general in al-Andalus, would be based on the breeding of domestic Caprini. The limitations of the economic system are reflected by the existence of anomalous slaughter-consumption systems of meat, with a strong weight of the cervids and, above all, equines, probably linked to an insufficient supply of the usual meat sources (domestic Caprini). Finally, the analysis of some patterns detected in the stratigraphic and spatial disposition of the remains indicates that the decline process was not only limited to the final siege, but was of long duration, allowing several levels of dumping of trash
that underwent various adjustments to maintain the use of the streets and private spaces.
Islamized community and a strong military character due to its border situation with the Christian kingdoms.One of the challenges proposed by this work is to evaluate the impact of the hypothetical economic wear and tear that a latent warlike environment could bring about through the faunistic record. In addition to informing about the exploitation of the
natural environment, the hunting and fishing resources show how some were integrated into artisanal activities that coexisted with agriculture and livestock that, as in general in al-Andalus, would be based on the breeding of domestic Caprini. The limitations of the economic system are reflected by the existence of anomalous slaughter-consumption systems of meat, with a strong weight of the cervids and, above all, equines, probably linked to an insufficient supply of the usual meat sources (domestic Caprini). Finally, the analysis of some patterns detected in the stratigraphic and spatial disposition of the remains indicates that the decline process was not only limited to the final siege, but was of long duration, allowing several levels of dumping of trash
that underwent various adjustments to maintain the use of the streets and private spaces.
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The multidisciplinary Albalat Project launched in 2009 aims to document a small fortified Islamic establishment, mentioned by textual sources as early as the second half of the 10th century. The site of Albalat became a strategic target... more
The multidisciplinary Albalat Project launched in 2009 aims to document a small fortified Islamic establishment, mentioned by textual sources as early as the second half of the 10th century. The site of Albalat became a strategic target for Christian troops due to its location, leading to its siege and systematic destruction in 1142. Its exceptional condition of complete abandonment offers a valuable record of daily life in the Almoravid era. The material culture of this period is, so far, poorly known.
In the site, "House 1" was the first to have been excavated. The collapse of the house allowed the in situ conservation of an abundance of material as well as the preservation of numerous bioarchaeological remains. Some of the architectural characteristics as well as the quality of the archaeological material led us to think that its inhabitants might have had a notable status. For this reason, we decided to synthesize all zooarchaeological and archaeobotanical (charcoal fragments and seeds) data available for this part of the site, in order to document the lifestyle of the inhabitants, and to investigate the resources they consumed as well as the types of environments exploited to produce these resources. Based on the bioarchaeological results, it appears the inhabitants of House 1 had access to a wide diversity of resources from the different environmental contexts probably available near the site (open fields, forest, riverbanks and the river itself). Though diverse, the species encountered in House 1 do not reveal a special or higher status of its inhabitants and are, on the contrary, common in the medieval Muslim settlements of the peninsula.
In the site, "House 1" was the first to have been excavated. The collapse of the house allowed the in situ conservation of an abundance of material as well as the preservation of numerous bioarchaeological remains. Some of the architectural characteristics as well as the quality of the archaeological material led us to think that its inhabitants might have had a notable status. For this reason, we decided to synthesize all zooarchaeological and archaeobotanical (charcoal fragments and seeds) data available for this part of the site, in order to document the lifestyle of the inhabitants, and to investigate the resources they consumed as well as the types of environments exploited to produce these resources. Based on the bioarchaeological results, it appears the inhabitants of House 1 had access to a wide diversity of resources from the different environmental contexts probably available near the site (open fields, forest, riverbanks and the river itself). Though diverse, the species encountered in House 1 do not reveal a special or higher status of its inhabitants and are, on the contrary, common in the medieval Muslim settlements of the peninsula.
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El conocimiento que tenemos de la dieta y la agricultura islamicas en al-Andalus se basa en fuentes textuales y arqueologicas, tan complementarias como, a veces, discordantes. Sin embargo, los datos que documentan de manera directa, a... more
El conocimiento que tenemos de la dieta y la agricultura islamicas en al-Andalus se basa en fuentes textuales y arqueologicas, tan complementarias como, a veces, discordantes. Sin embargo, los datos que documentan de manera directa, a traves de restos biologicos, para comprender las practicas agrarias y agropastorales en las areas rurales seguian siendo escasos. Nuevas investigaciones arqueobotanicas llevadas a cabo en los asentamientos medievales de Albalat, en Extremadura, y Las Sillas, en Aragon, ofrecen una aproximacion acerca de unas practicas agricolas en zonas alejadas de centros urbanos dinamicos y que no son conocidas por su gran productividad agricola. Los estudios carpologicos realizados en estos dos yacimientos han permitido extraer restos de distintos contextos arqueologicos: domesticos, como serian hogares y hornos, almacenes, cocinas o patios, y artesanales-fraguas-. Estos, juntos con otros estudios publicados, ofrecen una primera lectura de la variedad de plantas con...
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International audienc
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Compte-rendu : J. Lirola (dir. y éd.), Biblioteca de al-Andalus. Diccionario de autores. De Ibn al-Labbāna a Ibn al-Ruyūlī, Enciclopedia de la cultura andalusí (ECA) I, vol. 4, Almería, Fundación Ibn Tufayl de Estudios Árabes, 2006, Bulletin Critique des Annales Islamologiques 24, 2008, pp. 92-94.more
In recent decades, the development of archaeobotany in the western Mediterranean has made it possible to document the main plant resources exploited, the agricultural practices implemented, as well as major phenomena of circulation and... more
In recent decades, the development of archaeobotany in the western Mediterranean has made it possible to document the main plant resources exploited, the agricultural practices implemented, as well as major phenomena of circulation and integration of new plant resources within historical societies. During the Middle Ages, Iberia is for a great part under Muslim rule, and is the theater of what has been widely considered in the literature as a “green revolution”. This period also sees the expansion of the northern Christian kingdoms into the Peninsula, often found under the debated name of “Reconquista”, that ended in 1492 with the fall of Granada. These changes disrupted economic systems, demographic and environmental pressures which changed radically, entering a new scale. But what effect did they have on agriculture?
Regarding the reel expansion of medieval Arab-Berber agriculture in Iberia and the so-called “green revolution”, we hypothesize that it was in fact limited to A) the landed estates that depended on the urban aristocracy, and B) to the large areas of specialized production well known from the written sources. But how was agriculture practiced in the rural areas far from these productive regions: did they evolve as in Andalusia? Perpetuate ancient practices (Iberian, Roman)? Or undergo developments similar to those observed in neighboring Christian regions (Mediterranean France)? Regarding the areas that come under Christian rule, the weight of the Andalusian agricultural legacy is yet to be determined, although we hypothesize continuity in the staple productions and practices.
To document these questions, the main objectives of this paper are: 1) to reconstruct ancient agrosystems and agrobiodiversities using archaeobotanical data; 2) to assess how societies, depending on local environmental parameters, have developed their agrarian strategies, following the evolution of the cultural and socio-economic context; 3) to determine what role socio-economic dynamics have played in the large-scale diffusion of certain agricultural productions. The paper will present results of new studies carried out in a range of frontier medieval sites in Spain (Aragon, Catalonia, Extremadura, Guadalajara, Malaga, Ibiza), a large part of which is drawn from the research project "Landscapes of (Re)Conquest: Dynamics of Multicultural Frontiers in Medieval South Western Europe", funded by AHRC. The results, based on studies of seeds remains issued from samples dated from the 10th to the 15th c., make it possible to draw up a list of the main agro-horticultural productions and their evolution in the face of changing socio-economic dynamics.
Regarding the reel expansion of medieval Arab-Berber agriculture in Iberia and the so-called “green revolution”, we hypothesize that it was in fact limited to A) the landed estates that depended on the urban aristocracy, and B) to the large areas of specialized production well known from the written sources. But how was agriculture practiced in the rural areas far from these productive regions: did they evolve as in Andalusia? Perpetuate ancient practices (Iberian, Roman)? Or undergo developments similar to those observed in neighboring Christian regions (Mediterranean France)? Regarding the areas that come under Christian rule, the weight of the Andalusian agricultural legacy is yet to be determined, although we hypothesize continuity in the staple productions and practices.
To document these questions, the main objectives of this paper are: 1) to reconstruct ancient agrosystems and agrobiodiversities using archaeobotanical data; 2) to assess how societies, depending on local environmental parameters, have developed their agrarian strategies, following the evolution of the cultural and socio-economic context; 3) to determine what role socio-economic dynamics have played in the large-scale diffusion of certain agricultural productions. The paper will present results of new studies carried out in a range of frontier medieval sites in Spain (Aragon, Catalonia, Extremadura, Guadalajara, Malaga, Ibiza), a large part of which is drawn from the research project "Landscapes of (Re)Conquest: Dynamics of Multicultural Frontiers in Medieval South Western Europe", funded by AHRC. The results, based on studies of seeds remains issued from samples dated from the 10th to the 15th c., make it possible to draw up a list of the main agro-horticultural productions and their evolution in the face of changing socio-economic dynamics.
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Desde hace unos años, la investigación sobre la agricultura en el mundo rural de al-Andalus ha experimentado unos importantes avances, patentes en el creciente número de muestras estudiadas. El propósito perseguido aspira a caracterizar... more
Desde hace unos años, la investigación sobre la agricultura en el mundo rural de al-Andalus ha experimentado unos importantes avances, patentes en el creciente número de muestras estudiadas. El propósito perseguido aspira a caracterizar mejor la producción, las prácticas y los territorios agrícolas de las poblaciones campesinas. Entre las cuestiones planteadas, ocupa un lugar central la de la difusión de las nuevas plantas y prácticas introducidas o favorecidas por la expansión árabe-bereber, ya que se documentan disparidades en el seno de al-Andalus, cuyas causas son objeto de diversas hipótesis (geográficas, tipo de contexto, zonas de producción especializadas, voluntad económica local).
Para documentar la historia agrícola de las zonas marginales/periféricas, una investigación paleoambiental interdisciplinar está en curso en el yacimiento extremeño de Albalat (s. IX-XII). La gran variedad de restos aprisionados bajo los derrumbes de las casas permite restituir un amplio espectro de la vida cotidiana, dominada por labores domésticas, agropastorales y artesanales. Las prácticas agrícolas y de consumo se abordan a través de diferentes enfoques: arqueológico (estructuras, cerámicas, molinos), bioarqueológico (carpología, antracología) y químico (isótopos estables, química orgánica). Los resultados obtenidos a partir de estos diferentes enfoques permiten documentar tanto la producción agrícola (diversidad de cultivos anuales y perennes, tipos de suelo utilizados, aportes hídricos), como la transformación de estos productos (trilla de cereales, producción de harina) y su consumo (estudio de los rellenos de letrinas, residuos orgánicos en la cerámica). Se presentará una síntesis de estos resultados interdisciplinarios, con el fin de calificar este sistema agrohortícola en los márgenes de al- Andalus.
Para documentar la historia agrícola de las zonas marginales/periféricas, una investigación paleoambiental interdisciplinar está en curso en el yacimiento extremeño de Albalat (s. IX-XII). La gran variedad de restos aprisionados bajo los derrumbes de las casas permite restituir un amplio espectro de la vida cotidiana, dominada por labores domésticas, agropastorales y artesanales. Las prácticas agrícolas y de consumo se abordan a través de diferentes enfoques: arqueológico (estructuras, cerámicas, molinos), bioarqueológico (carpología, antracología) y químico (isótopos estables, química orgánica). Los resultados obtenidos a partir de estos diferentes enfoques permiten documentar tanto la producción agrícola (diversidad de cultivos anuales y perennes, tipos de suelo utilizados, aportes hídricos), como la transformación de estos productos (trilla de cereales, producción de harina) y su consumo (estudio de los rellenos de letrinas, residuos orgánicos en la cerámica). Se presentará una síntesis de estos resultados interdisciplinarios, con el fin de calificar este sistema agrohortícola en los márgenes de al- Andalus.
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Certains travaux conduits à partir de la lecture des sources écrites sur l’agriculture arabo-musulmane en al-Andalus (par ex. Watson 1983 réed. 2008) rappellent que le début de la période islamique en Occident (VIIe s.) correspond à une... more
Certains travaux conduits à partir de la lecture des sources écrites sur l’agriculture arabo-musulmane en al-Andalus (par ex. Watson 1983 réed. 2008) rappellent que le début de la période islamique en Occident (VIIe s.) correspond à une diversification de la gamme disponible des plantes utilitaires, accrue par l’innovation agronomique et technique (nouvelles techniques d’irrigation, valorisation des sols pauvres, usage intensif d’engrais organiques, art de la greffe, essor des cultures d’été), la diffusion de nouvelles espèces et la diversification des variétés. Une récente compilation des cultures pratiquées en al-Andalus à partir des sources textuelles recense ainsi quarante-sept plantes introduites ou diffusées par les Arabes (Albertini 2013). Cette diffusion vers l’ouest de plantes et de techniques agraires considérées comme nouvelles sont perçues comme une « révolution » agricole, engagée d’abord au Moyen–Orient, en Afrique du Nord, puis en Espagne. Des travaux postérieurs (Aubaile-Sallenave 1984 ; Decker 2009) ont modéré cette interprétation, en reprochant le parti pris d’A. Watson sur le rôle novateur des techniques agricoles arabes et sa vision trop linéaire sur la diffusion des idées et des biens qui dévalue les savoirs techniques et botaniques hérités des agronomies gréco-romaine, byzantine et babylonienne (Bolens 1974 ; Butzer et al. 1985 ; El Faïz 2000).
Actuellement, la majeure partie des connaissances concernant l’agriculture en al-Andalus repose sur deux types de sources : les mentions textuelles, de toute nature (i.e. traités agronomiques, culinaires, médicaux, etc.) et les sources iconographiques (i.e. illustrations de textes bibliques, de récits de voyage, de traités d’agriculture, de cuisine, etc.). Cette documentation, d’une grande diversité, ne permet d’aborder l’alimentation et l’agriculture que par une vision partielle, à savoir celle de l’élite sociale (aristocratie) et intellectuelle (savants, agronomes, médecins, etc.). A l’inverse, peu de sources écrites décrivent les comportements alimentaires et les pratiques agropastorales du monde rural en al-Andalus. En cela, l’étude des vestiges matériels, en l’occurrence archéobotaniques, semble être la piste la plus prometteuse pour documenter ces questions. Depuis 2013, des études carpologiques et anthracologiques sont menées dans deux établissements ruraux islamiques : Albalat (Estrémadure, Espagne) et Las Sillas (Aragon, Espagne). Ces études, reposant sur près de 150 échantillons extraits de contextes variés, domestiques (cuisines, fours, greniers, patios) et artisanaux (forges), permettent de proposer une première lecture des spectres et pratiques agro-pastorales passés. Au total, 22 plantes cultivées/cueillies ont été identifiées : 8 céréales, 2 légumineuses, 1 plante oléagineuse/technique, 11 fruitiers, auxquelles s’ajoutent près d’une quarantaine de taxons sauvages. Cette communication visera (1) à caractériser les pratiques alimentaires, agraires et les espaces exploités en al-Andalus rural, et (2) à mettre en évidence les signes d’une éventuelle « révolution » agricole islamique.
Actuellement, la majeure partie des connaissances concernant l’agriculture en al-Andalus repose sur deux types de sources : les mentions textuelles, de toute nature (i.e. traités agronomiques, culinaires, médicaux, etc.) et les sources iconographiques (i.e. illustrations de textes bibliques, de récits de voyage, de traités d’agriculture, de cuisine, etc.). Cette documentation, d’une grande diversité, ne permet d’aborder l’alimentation et l’agriculture que par une vision partielle, à savoir celle de l’élite sociale (aristocratie) et intellectuelle (savants, agronomes, médecins, etc.). A l’inverse, peu de sources écrites décrivent les comportements alimentaires et les pratiques agropastorales du monde rural en al-Andalus. En cela, l’étude des vestiges matériels, en l’occurrence archéobotaniques, semble être la piste la plus prometteuse pour documenter ces questions. Depuis 2013, des études carpologiques et anthracologiques sont menées dans deux établissements ruraux islamiques : Albalat (Estrémadure, Espagne) et Las Sillas (Aragon, Espagne). Ces études, reposant sur près de 150 échantillons extraits de contextes variés, domestiques (cuisines, fours, greniers, patios) et artisanaux (forges), permettent de proposer une première lecture des spectres et pratiques agro-pastorales passés. Au total, 22 plantes cultivées/cueillies ont été identifiées : 8 céréales, 2 légumineuses, 1 plante oléagineuse/technique, 11 fruitiers, auxquelles s’ajoutent près d’une quarantaine de taxons sauvages. Cette communication visera (1) à caractériser les pratiques alimentaires, agraires et les espaces exploités en al-Andalus rural, et (2) à mettre en évidence les signes d’une éventuelle « révolution » agricole islamique.
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In the literature (i.e. Watson, Aubaile-Sallenave, Decker), it is stated that the beginning of the Islamic period (7th c. A.D.) led to the development and spread of a new type of agriculture, event often characterized as “the Islamic... more
In the literature (i.e. Watson, Aubaile-Sallenave, Decker), it is stated that the beginning of the Islamic period (7th c. A.D.) led to the development and spread of a new type of agriculture, event often characterized as “the Islamic agricultural revolution”. This “new” agriculture would have been based on several criteria: spread of new irrigation methods, use of intensive fertilizers, spread and improvement of several agricultural practices (i.e. grafting), development of spring crops, broadening of the diversity of plants exploited and spread of new species, development of new varieties, etc. A recent synthesis led on agriculture in al-Andalus lists 47 plant species, introduced or spread by arab-berber populations. Nonetheless, the knowledge we have of Islamic diet and agriculture in al-Andalus is mostly based on three types of sources: written sources (i.e. agronomic, medical, food treatises, tax sources, etc.), iconographic sources (illustration of said treatises) and archaeological sources (i.e. excavation of irrigation structures). Data documenting directly these questions remain scarce, especially for rural areas.
Since 2013, archaeobotanical studies are led on the Islamic rural settlements of Albalat (Extremadura, Spain) and Las Sillas (Aragon, Spain). These studies, based on about 150 samples extracted from various types of domestic (kitchens, ovens, storage and patios) and craft (forge) contexts, allow us to propose a first review on past agricultural biodiversity and practices in rural al-Andalus, based on direct material evidences. From the analysis of the carpological samples, 19 cultivated/gathered taxa were found: 7 cereals, 1 pulse, 1 technical/oil plants and 10 fruits, and approximately an additional 20 weeds/wild plants. This communication will characterize Islamic diet and agricultural practices in rural al-Andalus, compare the spectra obtained with those existing during previous periods and enlighten the possible introduction and role of “new” or “exotic” plants in rural contexts.
Since 2013, archaeobotanical studies are led on the Islamic rural settlements of Albalat (Extremadura, Spain) and Las Sillas (Aragon, Spain). These studies, based on about 150 samples extracted from various types of domestic (kitchens, ovens, storage and patios) and craft (forge) contexts, allow us to propose a first review on past agricultural biodiversity and practices in rural al-Andalus, based on direct material evidences. From the analysis of the carpological samples, 19 cultivated/gathered taxa were found: 7 cereals, 1 pulse, 1 technical/oil plants and 10 fruits, and approximately an additional 20 weeds/wild plants. This communication will characterize Islamic diet and agricultural practices in rural al-Andalus, compare the spectra obtained with those existing during previous periods and enlighten the possible introduction and role of “new” or “exotic” plants in rural contexts.
Research Interests:
Large containers are quite common in the later Almoravid context (first half of the 12 th century A.D.) in the fortified site of Albalat, Extremadura, Spain. They did not have complex decorations, such as those that would become very... more
Large containers are quite common in the later Almoravid context (first half of the 12 th century A.D.) in the fortified site of Albalat, Extremadura, Spain. They did not have complex decorations, such as those that would become very successful in later productions (stamped and glazed techniques combined with a covering and dense decoration). However, the recent discovery of a well-dated jar has allowed us to record the existence of an model previously unknown from the site: it seems to be as a primitive precedent of the later Almohad jars.
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Research Interests:
Started in 2009, the multidisciplinary project in the archaeological settlement of Albalat (Extremadura, Spain) aims to document the small fortified Islamic establishment, mentioned by the textual sources from the second half of the 10th... more
Started in 2009, the multidisciplinary project in the archaeological settlement of Albalat (Extremadura, Spain) aims to document the small fortified Islamic establishment, mentioned by the textual sources from the second half of the 10th century. Located on a terrace dominating one of the fords that cross the Tagus river, the site became for the Christian troops a strategic objective, leading to the siege and the systematic destruction of the city in the mid- 12th century. Covering a total area of more than 1000 m2, the excavation has revealed various types of contexts organized along streets: domestic spaces (kitchens, ovens, storage and patios), craft spaces (forge), as well as a hammām installed at the foot of the wall of the city.
Archaeobotanical material, extracted from about 150 samples, comprises charred and mineralized seeds/fruits as well as charcoals in varying degrees of abundance. From the analysis of the carpological samples, 19 cultivated/gathered taxa were found: 7 cereals, 1 pulse, 1 technical/oil plants and 10 fruits, and approximately an additional 20 weeds/wild plants. Triticum aestivum/turgidum, Hordeum vulgare, Secale cereale and Panicum miliaceum were the principal crops, produced in local fields. The numerous cereal chaff and straw remains discovered suggest their use as fodder or litter in the biggest houses of the city. The pulses, less common than cereals, are mainly represented by Vicia cf. sativa. The most frequent fruits are Ficus carica and Quercus spec., although a large diversity of cultivated/gathered species was used (Castanea sativa, Morus alba/nigra, Olea europea, Malus/Pyrus, Prunus avium/cerasus, Prunus persica, Prunus dulcis, Vitis vinifera,), taxa also present for some of them among the charred wood of the deposits. Linum usitatissimum is also commonly found. The exploitation of dry, rich soils is suggested by the discovery of several nitrophilous taxa (Lolium temulentum, Agrostemma githago, Solanum nigrum). In the meantime, charcoals testify of the exploitation of various habitats for timber and firewood, such as the oak forest (Quercus ilex/coccifera/), the riparian woods (Alnus sp., Fraxinus sp., Ulmus sp.) and orchards (different types of Rosaceae -Prunus and Pomoideae-, Vitis vinifera, Olea). The preferential use of Pine wood in several contexts must also be discussed. This study allows for the first time to shed light on the plant species exploited and on their uses by the Islamic populations of this area, at the edge of al-Andalus.
Archaeobotanical material, extracted from about 150 samples, comprises charred and mineralized seeds/fruits as well as charcoals in varying degrees of abundance. From the analysis of the carpological samples, 19 cultivated/gathered taxa were found: 7 cereals, 1 pulse, 1 technical/oil plants and 10 fruits, and approximately an additional 20 weeds/wild plants. Triticum aestivum/turgidum, Hordeum vulgare, Secale cereale and Panicum miliaceum were the principal crops, produced in local fields. The numerous cereal chaff and straw remains discovered suggest their use as fodder or litter in the biggest houses of the city. The pulses, less common than cereals, are mainly represented by Vicia cf. sativa. The most frequent fruits are Ficus carica and Quercus spec., although a large diversity of cultivated/gathered species was used (Castanea sativa, Morus alba/nigra, Olea europea, Malus/Pyrus, Prunus avium/cerasus, Prunus persica, Prunus dulcis, Vitis vinifera,), taxa also present for some of them among the charred wood of the deposits. Linum usitatissimum is also commonly found. The exploitation of dry, rich soils is suggested by the discovery of several nitrophilous taxa (Lolium temulentum, Agrostemma githago, Solanum nigrum). In the meantime, charcoals testify of the exploitation of various habitats for timber and firewood, such as the oak forest (Quercus ilex/coccifera/), the riparian woods (Alnus sp., Fraxinus sp., Ulmus sp.) and orchards (different types of Rosaceae -Prunus and Pomoideae-, Vitis vinifera, Olea). The preferential use of Pine wood in several contexts must also be discussed. This study allows for the first time to shed light on the plant species exploited and on their uses by the Islamic populations of this area, at the edge of al-Andalus.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Rarement abordée par les chercheurs, parce que jugée trop scabreuse ou relevant d’une trop grande intimité, la question des latrines et de l’élimination des déchets physiologiques est pourtant au centre du quotidien. Son impact sur... more
Rarement abordée par les chercheurs, parce que jugée trop scabreuse ou relevant d’une trop grande intimité, la question des latrines et de l’élimination des déchets physiologiques est pourtant au centre du quotidien. Son impact sur l’organisation sociale, en particulier en milieu urbain, est loin d’être négligeable. Dans le monde islamique, elle fait partie des préoccupations relevant de la pratique religieuse. L’intensification actuelle du problème, sous l’effet de l’augmentation rapide de la population mondiale impose de comprendre comment celui-ci était posé et résolu dans le passé.
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Les vestiges archéologiques exceptionnels de Sedrata sont ceux d’une ville médiévale enfouie sous les sables du Sahara algérien, près de Ouargla. Ce carrefour du commerce transsaharien alimentait la Méditerranée en or et en esclaves. Ce... more
Les vestiges archéologiques exceptionnels de Sedrata sont ceux d’une ville médiévale enfouie sous les sables du Sahara algérien, près de Ouargla. Ce carrefour du commerce transsaharien alimentait la Méditerranée en or et en esclaves. Ce fut aussi un centre pour les ibadites, une minorité musulmane dont les héritiers visitent tous les ans les ruines de leur passé. Son destin fut lié à cette communauté, mais aussi à l’épuisement des ressources hydriques. L’enquête entrelace les disciplines et les temporalités pour offrir au lecteur la première image complète de cette cité, au cœur de l’histoire africaine. Cette redécouverte s’appuie sur les sources ibadites et sur les archives de fouilles inédites de Marguerite van Berchem (1950-1955). Le manuscrit inachevé, la riche collection de photographies, de dessins et de plans légués par son projet novateur nourrissent une étude historique et archéologique de l’établissement, dont les célèbres programmes décoratifs sont de nouveau interprétés et datés.
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International audienceL’abandon de l’oasis méridionale de Warğlān (la Sedrata de l’historiographie) et le basculement du centre de gravité du peuplement vers le site de l’actuelle Ouargla (peut-être déjà partiellement occupé) durent se... more
International audienceL’abandon de l’oasis méridionale de Warğlān (la Sedrata de l’historiographie) et le basculement du centre de gravité du peuplement vers le site de l’actuelle Ouargla (peut-être déjà partiellement occupé) durent se produire au tournant du VIIe H./XIIIe siècle. Cette émergence de Ouargla comme établissement principal de la région pourrait avoir correspondu à l’imposition d’une autorité hafside en 626 H./1228 et, d’une façon plus générale, au poids croissant des communautés malékites faces aux ibadites devenus minoritaires. Mais ce double événement semble bien concomitant, aussi, d’un troisième, lié aux conditions naturelles : l’abaissement inéluctable, dû à la surexploitation, de la nappe artésienne alimentant l’oasis de Sedrata.Toujours est-il que l’on considère encore souvent l’abandon du site de Sedrata et l’émigration de ses habitants vers le Mzab comme la principale – sinon l’unique – origine du peuplement primitif de cette vallée, dont aurait alors commencé la colonisation agricole. Le processus aurait alors été le même que trois siècles auparavant à Sedrata, dont la genèse aurait été liée à la prise de Tahert, au IVe H./Xe siècle, et à l’émigration vers le sud de la population de cette capitale ibadite Dans un cas comme dans l’autre il s’agit sans doute là d’une surinterprétation des faits. En ce qui concerne le Mzab, de trop rares sources écrites et certaines traditions orales tardives laissent entendre que sa fréquentation par des groupes provenant de Warğlān remonte à une époque antérieure et qu’il avait constitué assez tôt une aire satellite et économiquement complémentaire de ces oasis méridionales.Après avoir passé brièvement en revue les arguments contribuant à cette révision du processus de peuplement de la vallée, nous nous interrogeons sur la possibilité de faire intervenir dans cette discussion les indices archéologiques encore observables, de nature hélas disparate et, pour beaucoup, en voie de disparition sous l’effet de la croissance urbaine récente
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Las tinajas ocupan un lugar importante dentro del corpus cerámico de los últimos momentos de ocupación del establecimiento musulmán de Albalat (prov. Cáceres, España) instalado en la ribera del río Tajo, durante el final del periodo... more
Las tinajas ocupan un lugar importante dentro del corpus cerámico de los últimos momentos de ocupación del establecimiento musulmán de Albalat (prov. Cáceres, España) instalado en la ribera del río Tajo, durante el final del periodo almorávide (primera mitad del s. XII). Después de presentar los contextos de los hallazgos, proponemos examinar sus características morfológicas, las cuales ponen en evidencia unas capacidades de almacenamiento relativamente pequeñas, en relación, quizá, con particularidades locales y su funcionalidad. En este sentido, los primeros análisis de residuos orgánicos por cromatografía gaseosa - espectrometría de masas (GC-MS) abren pistas inéditas sobre sus usos: atestiguan el consumo del vino/vinagre de vino y el empleo de un método original de impermeabilización. La aproximación petrográfica
de sus pastas remite a producciones probablemente locales, mientras que una inscripción de propiedad, marcada antes de la cocción, corrobora el uso del término hābīya fuera de la esfera meramente textual de al-Andalus.
de sus pastas remite a producciones probablemente locales, mientras que una inscripción de propiedad, marcada antes de la cocción, corrobora el uso del término hābīya fuera de la esfera meramente textual de al-Andalus.
Resumen: Las excavaciones realizadas en el asentamiento fortificado de Albalat (Cáceres) están proporcionando informaciones inéditas sobre un área periférica de al-Andalus donde los referentes cerámicos son aún bastante mal conocidos. La... more
Resumen: Las excavaciones realizadas en el asentamiento fortificado de Albalat (Cáceres) están proporcionando informaciones inéditas sobre un área periférica de al-Andalus donde los referentes cerámicos son aún bastante mal conocidos. La particularidad del contexto de abandono, fechado gracias a la conjunción de diversos datos a mediados del siglo XII, permite poner en evidencia un ajuar común de época almorávide. Presentamos un conjunto cerámico procedente de una gran vivienda, estableciendo su tipología a partir de sus características formales y funcionales. Este repertorio refleja un momento de transición que anuncia ciertas formas que tendrán después una amplia difusión, mientras que otras testimonian la herencia tipológica del siglo XI.
Résumé: Les fouilles menées sur l’établissement fortifié d’Albalat (Cáceres) offrent des informations inédites sur une aire périphérique d’al-Andalus
où les référents céramiques sont encore très mal connus. La particularité du contexte d’abandon, daté grâce au croisement de sources diverses, dans la première moitié du XIIe siècle, permet de mettre en évidence un vaisselier commun d’époque almoravide. Nous présentons un ensemble céramique provenant d’une grande demeure, en établissant sa typologie à partir de ses caractéristiques formelles et fonctionnelles. Ce répertoire reflète un moment de transition qui annonce certaines formes appelées à connaître une ample diffusion, tandis que d’autres témoignent de l’héritage typologique du XIe siècle.
Résumé: Les fouilles menées sur l’établissement fortifié d’Albalat (Cáceres) offrent des informations inédites sur une aire périphérique d’al-Andalus
où les référents céramiques sont encore très mal connus. La particularité du contexte d’abandon, daté grâce au croisement de sources diverses, dans la première moitié du XIIe siècle, permet de mettre en évidence un vaisselier commun d’époque almoravide. Nous présentons un ensemble céramique provenant d’une grande demeure, en établissant sa typologie à partir de ses caractéristiques formelles et fonctionnelles. Ce répertoire reflète un moment de transition qui annonce certaines formes appelées à connaître une ample diffusion, tandis que d’autres témoignent de l’héritage typologique du XIe siècle.
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Le projet d'étude du site médiéval d'Albalat (Romangordo, province de Cáceres) a surgi à la suite de découvertes effectuées lors d'une prospection réalisée en 2008 et répond à la demande de la municipalité... more
Le projet d'étude du site médiéval d'Albalat (Romangordo, province de Cáceres) a surgi à la suite de découvertes effectuées lors d'une prospection réalisée en 2008 et répond à la demande de la municipalité désireuse de mettre en valeur ce site. Une courte campagne ...
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El proyecto multidisciplinar iniciado en 2009 en el yacimiento de Albalat tiene por objetivo descubrir lo que fue este pequeño establecimiento amurallado, mencionado por las fuentes textuales a partir de la segunda mitad del s. X. Su... more
El proyecto multidisciplinar iniciado en 2009 en el yacimiento de Albalat tiene por objetivo descubrir lo que fue este pequeño establecimiento amurallado, mencionado por las fuentes textuales a partir de la segunda mitad del s. X. Su ubicación en una terraza fluvial le permitía controlar uno de los pasos para cruzar el río Tajo, explicando por qué se convirtió en un objetivo estratégico, perseguido por las tropas cristianas a partir de finales del s. XI. El registro arqueológico asociado a los últimos momentos de ocupación revela una destrucción sistemática que marca probablemente el final de un asedio que se produjo a mediados del s. XII. Además de la excavación de un hamma-m instalado al pie de la muralla, los trabajos arqueológicos se han centrado en el espacio intramuros. Los sondeos abiertos, que cubren por ahora una superficie total de más de 1.000 m2, han sacado a la luz diferentes tipos de estructuras que se articulan a lo largo de ejes de circulación. Si bien la mayoría de las construcciones remiten a contextos domésticos, otras tienen un carácter artesanal, de almacenamiento y quizás incluso comercial.
The multidisciplinary project started in 2009 in the archaeological settlement of Albalat. It aims to discover what this small fortifie destablishment was, as mentioned by the textual sources from the second half of the Xth. Its location on a river terrace allowed to control one of the fords that cross the river Tagus. This explained why it became a strategic objective, pursued by the Christian troops from the end of the 11th century. The archaeological record associated with the last moments of occupation reveals a systematic destruction that probably marks the end of a siege that took place in the mid.12th century. In addition to the excavation of a hamma-m installed at the foot of the wall, the archaeological work has been focused on the inside walled space. The digging, covering a total area of more than 1000 m2, have brought to light various types of structures organized along streets. Most of the constructions refer to domestic contexts, but some have a workshop and storage, which could be a sign of commercial activity.
The multidisciplinary project started in 2009 in the archaeological settlement of Albalat. It aims to discover what this small fortifie destablishment was, as mentioned by the textual sources from the second half of the Xth. Its location on a river terrace allowed to control one of the fords that cross the river Tagus. This explained why it became a strategic objective, pursued by the Christian troops from the end of the 11th century. The archaeological record associated with the last moments of occupation reveals a systematic destruction that probably marks the end of a siege that took place in the mid.12th century. In addition to the excavation of a hamma-m installed at the foot of the wall, the archaeological work has been focused on the inside walled space. The digging, covering a total area of more than 1000 m2, have brought to light various types of structures organized along streets. Most of the constructions refer to domestic contexts, but some have a workshop and storage, which could be a sign of commercial activity.
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Dos fichas de ajedrez han sido halladas en los niveles de destruccion de la cocina documentada en el sondeo 2. Peon de ajedrez. ALB11/S2-B/UE3071-H4. Peon de ajedrez. Pieza tallada y pulida en hueso. Dimensiones: alto 4,9 cm por una... more
Dos fichas de ajedrez han sido halladas en los niveles de destruccion de la cocina documentada en el sondeo 2. Peon de ajedrez. ALB11/S2-B/UE3071-H4. Peon de ajedrez. Pieza tallada y pulida en hueso. Dimensiones: alto 4,9 cm por una anchura maxima de 2,35-2,1 cm. Presenta una forma conica rematado por un pequeno casquete piramidal (con facetas poco definidas) y una base de tendencia oval (2,3 x 2cm). El tratamiento superficial se limita a un pulido liso sin decorar que deja al descubierto...
un interesante conjunto cerámico de época almorávide fue hallado en la cocina de una de las viviendas excavadas en el asentamiento medieval de Albalat (Romangordo, Cáceres). Las piezas cerámicas, en su mayoría completas, se habían... more
un interesante conjunto cerámico de época almorávide fue hallado en la cocina de una de las viviendas excavadas en el
asentamiento medieval de Albalat (Romangordo, Cáceres). Las piezas cerámicas, en su mayoría completas, se habían conservado in situ
en el nivel de incendio. Algunas incluso colocadas sobre poyetes o estantes. El hallazgo proporciona una imagen particularmente precisa
del funcionamiento de esta cocina en los momentos previos al derrumbe de su techumbre, posiblemente en un contexto bélico. El
inusual estado de conservación de los objetos y de su localización original permite no solo acrecentar nuestro conocimiento sobre el
ajuar cerámico de principios del siglo XII, sino también percibir la vida cotidiana de los habitantes de este pequeño centro urbano en la
frontera del río Tajo.
asentamiento medieval de Albalat (Romangordo, Cáceres). Las piezas cerámicas, en su mayoría completas, se habían conservado in situ
en el nivel de incendio. Algunas incluso colocadas sobre poyetes o estantes. El hallazgo proporciona una imagen particularmente precisa
del funcionamiento de esta cocina en los momentos previos al derrumbe de su techumbre, posiblemente en un contexto bélico. El
inusual estado de conservación de los objetos y de su localización original permite no solo acrecentar nuestro conocimiento sobre el
ajuar cerámico de principios del siglo XII, sino también percibir la vida cotidiana de los habitantes de este pequeño centro urbano en la
frontera del río Tajo.
... sus trazos incisos15, permite avanzar algunas observaciones preliminares. 16 Barceló Torres, 2004 y Bejarano Escanilla, 1993. 17 Gilotte, 2004, vol. 1, pp. 348 y sqq. 5Con unas veinte inscripciones detectadas hasta el momento ...
Festschrift in honor of Prof. Christophe Picard
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