Defensive Systems in the First Carolingian Border South of the Pyrennees. Experimental Archaeology applied to the Early Medieval poliorcetics along the River Ter. [University of Barcelona and Fundació Privada l'Esquerda]
Principal Investigator: Imma Ollich i Castanyer
Project DGICYT-Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness: HAR2012-36497
Duration: 3 years, 2013-2015
Budget: 24.570,- €
Team LEAF/CARFRONTER: Dr. David Serrat, Dra. M.Ángeles del Rincón, Dr. Joan S. Mestres, Dr. Joan-Albert Adell, Dra. Christine E. Shaw, Dr. Roeland Paardekooper, Dra. Carme Cubero, Dra. Irene Llop, Oriol Amblàs, MA., Montserrat de Rocafiguera, MA., Maria Ocaña, MA., Antoni Caballé, MA., Pau Espona, AE.
*MA: Master in Archaeology, AE: Agricultural Engineer
This project on experimental archaeology and early-medieval poliorcetics aims to deepen our knowledge of medieval history , through empirical and archaeological evidences. Archaeological sites along the River Ter suggest the existence of a first borderline built by Carolingians at the end of the 8th century, with the aim to control and stop the Muslim advance to France through the Pyrenees. The remains found at the site of l’Esquerda, together with some negative evidences in strategic points, seem to suggest that certain sites were part of a line of wooden watchtowers situated along the River Ter. Thus, the purpose of this project is to construct a full-sized wooden watchtower, with posts straightly embedded in the rock, following some models located during our study, and complemented with documentary and iconographic data. The methodology of Experimental Archaeology will be strictly observed as regards counting materials, building process, safety, function and duration.
Publications:
2014, OLLICH-CASTANYER, I.- ROCAFIGUERA, M.- OCAÑA, M.,The southern carolingian frontier along the River Ter: ‘Roda Civitas’ identified in the archaeological site of l’Esquerda (Catalonia), International Medieval Congress, Leeds (UK) 1st-4th july 2013, in press: Oxbow, Oxford 2014
2013, OLLICH, I.; ROCAFIGUERA, M.; OCAÑA, M., Experimentació sobre la construcció i la crema d’un paller, III Congrés Internacional d’Arqueologia Experimental (Banyoles, Girona 17-19 d’octubre 2011), actes: Museu d’Arqueologia de Catalunya-Girona, sèrie monogràfica 25.2: Experimentación en arqueología. Estudio y difusión del pasado, Girona 2013, p. 355-362. ISBN:978-84-393-9094-4
2012, OLLICH, I.; ROCAFIGUERA, M.; OCAÑA, M.; CUBERO, C.; AMBLÀS, O.: Experimental Archaeology at l’Esquerda –Crops, Storage, Metalcraft and Earthworks in Mediaeval and Ancient Times, in Ollich-Castanyer (ed.): Archaeology. New Approaches in Theory and Techniques.- Intech Publ., Rijeka (Croatia), p. 205-228.http://www.intechopen.com/books/archaeology-new-approaches-in-theory-and-techniques
2012, OLLICH, I.; ROCAFIGUERA, M.; OCAÑA, M.: Experimentation about building and burning a haystack at the AREA of l’Esquerda (Roda de Ter, Catalonia), in: The 6th Experimental Archaeology Conference, University of York (UK) 6th-7th January 2012, Poster: http://experimentalarchaeology.org.uk/2012/01/06/6th-experimental-archaeology-conference-poster-abstract-imma-olich-castanyer/
http://experimentalarchaeologyuk.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/haystack-pster-york2012.pdf/
2004, OLLICH, I., Roda Ciutat (L'Esquerda) i la defensa de la línia del Ter al comtat d'Osona (s. VIII-X), a: Congrés sobre els Castells Medievals a la Mediterrània Nordoccidental, Museu Etnològic del Montseny, Arbúcies-Girona, p. 179-194.
1999, OLLICH, I., Roda: l'Esquerda. La ciutat carolíngia, a "Catalunya a l'època carolíngia. Art i cultura als segles IX i X", catàleg de l'exposició del MNAC, Barcelona, p. 84-88.