Munibe Antropologia-Arkeologia (Oct 2022)
Origen, evolución y desarrollo de un castillo medieval del interior de Galicia. El caso del castillo roquero de San Salvador de Todea (Allariz, Ourense)
Abstract
En el marco de tres proyectos sucesivos de investigación llevados a cabo por la Universidad de Vigo se descubrió, excavó y documentó el castillo roquero de San Salvador de Todea, cercano a la villa de Allariz. Se trata de un yacimiento articulado en dos plataformas, que cuenta con dos tumbas antropomorfas en la inferior y la fortificación propiamente dicha en la superior. San Salvador de Todea presenta las características propias de los castillos roqueros. Se emplaza en un punto elevado, muy escarpado y bien defendido naturalmente, con una función principal de control de territorio y de las vías de comunicación, en este caso, entre el interior ourensano y Portugal. El castillo se construye aprovechando los afloramientos graníticos para apoyar vigas y muros, tanto en la muralla, como en la torre y otras estancias habitacionales y defensivas. En este artículo presentamos los resultados de un proyecto multidisciplinar, que ha conseguido fechar la fortaleza pleno medieval entre los siglos XI/XII y el XV, así como varias ocupaciones previas. ABSTRACT The University of Vigo project in San Salvador’s hill unveil a forgotten medieval rock castle unknown until 2016. The project, developed from 2016 to 2019 between the University of Vigo and the Diputación de Ourense, allow us to understand the situation, dating, distribution and function of the fortress. San Salvador de Todea is located near the also medieval town of Allariz (Ourense), and we found archaeological remains in two platforms, with two tombs in the lower one and the fortification itself in the upper one. San Salvador de Todea presents the characteristics of rock castles. It is located on a high point, very steep and naturally well defended, with a main function of controlling the territory and the communication routes, in this case, between the interior of Ourense and Portugal. The castle is built taking advantage of the granite outcrops to support beams and walls. It would have two zones: one, with the tower, one open yard and another room with roof, and the other, with a big yard and room for storage, manufacturing, etc. The walls have elevated positions to control and defend the castle. This is a multidisciplinary project; the combination of field archaeology, radiocarbon dating, material culture studies and written sources was crucial to found the medieval name of the castle, as well as the land under its rule and its main function. Middle Age is a conflictive time in the southern Ourense because of the confrontations with the Portuguese, who tried to conquer this region. San Salvador could be one of the several castles and towers build in XI-XII centuries to fight the Portuguese expansion and control the communication routes.
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