Abstract
Due to the project developed by the technicians of the Municipality of Arcos de la Frontera in order to restore the visible remains of the Medieval wall preserved in the southeastern area of this town, the authors of this paper conducted the archaeological excavation, drawing survey and study of this enclosure. As a result of these analysis have been identified eight constructive periods, grouped into three cycles. With the aim of obtaining a better understanding of this monument, these activities have been completed with the use of written sources, the urban fieldwork, the study of micro-toponymy, the analogy with other architectural elements and, to a lesser extent, with the information provided by the archaeological materials. The results of these analyses make possible to propose a reasonable hypothesis regarding the foundation of the wall and the relationship between its three southeastern gates. The conclusions mean an approach to the urban development of this area of Arcos de la Frontera from al-Andalus times until the late Modern Age.
Highlights
Due to the project developed by the technicians of the Municipality of Arcos de la Frontera in order to restore the visible remains of the Medieval wall preserved in the southeastern area of this town, the authors of this paper conducted the archaeological excavation, drawing survey and study of this enclosure
With the aim of obtaining a better understanding of this monument, these activities have been completed with the use of written sources, the urban fieldwork, the study of micro-toponymy, the analogy with other architectural elements and, to a lesser extent, with the information provided by the archaeological materials
The results of these analyses make possible to propose a reasonable hypothesis regarding the foundation of the wall and the relationship between its three southeastern gates
Summary
HISTORIOGRAFÍA Y FUENTES ESCRITAS Sobre el promontorio rocoso en el cual se asienta esta población (en adelante utilizaremos el término coloquial, “la peña”), existió una fortaleza al menos desde época andalusí temprana, tal como se deduce a partir de Una descripción anónima de al-Andalus, fuente cronística y geográfica bajomedieval. Algo más prolijas son las fuentes árabes para los dos siglos siguientes, cuando la población experimentó un notable crecimiento al amparo de su condición de escala para los ejércitos de los imperios norteafricanos durante sus campañas en al-Andalus, tal como sucedió por ejemplo en 1190 con las huestes almohades[14]. Durante las segundas taifas, Arkus había sido la primera en someterse a los Unitarios[15] en 114816, mientras que por esas mismas fechas el sufí Ibn Qasi también les prestaba juramento en el hisn Arkus[17]. Contamos con dos interesantes testimonios para finales del siglo XIII, en el primero de los cuales Arcos de la Frontera aparece como residencia de tan solo ocho caballeros[24]. Para paliar esta situación y salvaguardar la defensa del enclave, Alfonso XI pone la villa con todo
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