Discovery of a late medieval palace by means of historical, architectural, and archaeological studies: the Urdaiaga caserío

Abstract

The possible intervention to authorise the construction of two residences in a farmhouse listed as an area of presumed archaeological interest in Usurbil, Spain, entailed carrying out archaeological, historical and architectural studies. Before the beginning of the studies, it was known that the lineage of the Urdaiagas counted two palaces in Usurbil, a modest one about which there is not much information, which authors such as Manso de Zúñiga (Spanish ethnographer, 1902-1982) situated in the property of the caserío (farmhouse) Urdaiaga, and another large late-medieval palace about which 16th century plans and elevations are preserved in the Ducal House of Hijar (archive of noble relatives), and whose precise location was unknown. Studies conducted around the property have proven that the caserío Urdaiaga, which has reached the present day totally transformed, was the large building described in the historical documentation, being, therefore, of great patrimonial value.

Keywords

• Palace
• Late-medieval
• Farmhouse
• Discovery
• Cultural Heritage