CASTLES, MONASTERIES AND PALACES

The project aims to study the spaces of power in medieval and modern Catalonia through two unique archaeological sites: the female hospital monastery of Santa Maria de Alguaire and the Royal Palace of Valldaura. We do this through archaeology, but also through the study of written texts and landscape analysis.

Project details

• Title: Castles, monasteries and palaces. Power, territory and landscape (XII-XVII centuries).
• Code: CLT009/18/00046.
• Financing Institutions: Department of Culture of the Generalitat de Catalunya, Alguaire City Council, Institut d’Arquitectura Avançada de Catalunya (IAAC), University of Barcelona.
• Collaborating entities: Institut de Recerca en Cultures Medievals (IRCVM), Medieval Archeology Laboratory (LAMUB).
• Project Leader: Maria Soler Sala.

Short description

The study of the spaces of power and their impact on the territory constitutes a line of research that is interested not only in the places of domination themselves, but also in their impact on the economy and society. The archaeological analysis of the structures of power allows us to understand them from the perspective of the lived space, but also from the relationships established with the historical landscape, understood as a gateway to the complexity of the past.

The project foresees the realization of several archaeological excavation campaigns in two spaces of territorial, economic or spiritual power: the female hospital monastery of Santa Maria de Alguaire (Segrià) and the Royal Palace of Valldaura (Vallès Occidental). We do it in the framework of a transdisciplinary research, which is committed to the use of technologies and dialogue between sources (archaeological, written texts and territory) in the construction of historical knowledge.

 Research objectives

• To study the spaces of power in medieval and modern Catalonia, incorporating the archaeological record in the reflection on the nature and materiality of power.
• Analyse the construction processes, the architectural evolution and the superimpositions of the domain spaces in the chronology under study.
• To understand the territorial impact of the power centres: establishment, patrimonial management and relationship or connection networks.
• Integrate the gender perspective in the archaeology of power spaces, especially in the case of female monastic lordships.
• Give back to society the results of the project in collaboration with the institutions and agents of the territory.

In order to achieve these objectives we propose:

• To study the spaces of power in medieval and modern Catalonia, incorporating the archaeological record in the reflection on the nature and materiality of power.
• Carry out archaeological interventions in the female hospital monastery of Santa Maria d’Alguaire (el Segrià) and the Royal Palace of Valldaura (Vallès Occidental), as well as in the church of Mare de Déu del Merli (el Segrià).
• Search, empty and record the information extracted from textual sources related to the aforementioned spaces of power.
• Use GIS representation and analysis techniques in the study of the impact of these constructions on the territory and landscape.
• Review archaeological excavation materials and reports related territorially or chronologically to the power spaces studied.
• To disseminate and highlight the results of the project through scientific and informative dissemination activities.