Castros (Spain): Difference between revisions
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The '''castro''' is a fortified [[village]] that began to inhabit from the 6th century B.C., lacking streets of right angles and full of construction almost always circular. The oldest [[house]]s were mostly of [[straw]]-[[mud]] and the latest masonry. The [[roof]] was made of branches and mud and after long poles. Basically, they were unique rooms. These are located in naturally protected areas (heights, riots [[river]]s, small [[peninsula]]s), close of sources and arable land and on the border between these and higher areas of grazing. |
The '''castro''' is a fortified [[village]] that began to inhabit from the 6th century B.C., lacking streets of right angles and full of construction almost always circular. The oldest [[house]]s were mostly of [[straw]]-[[mud]] and the latest masonry. The [[roof]] was made of branches and mud and after long poles. Basically, they were unique rooms. These are located in naturally protected areas (heights, riots [[river]]s, small [[peninsula]]s), close of sources and arable land and on the border between these and higher areas of grazing. |
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The castros were protected by one or more [[ |
The castros were protected by one or more [[pit]]s, parapets and [[Defensive walls|walls]] that bordered the inhabited recint, may have in its acceses a [[Torreon (disambiguation)|torreón]] that controlled the entry ways to itself or another strategic location. |
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In times of conflict, the people who lived in open field moved to these buildings, located at strategic locations to ensure their safety. Could also have other purposes such as control of territory, vigilance of crops, etc. |
In times of conflict, the people who lived in open field moved to these buildings, located at strategic locations to ensure their safety. Could also have other purposes such as control of territory, vigilance of crops, etc. |
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The maximum flowering time is between 4th-2nd century B.C. and show greater business contact with the outside of the south than the north, and the coastal than the inland. Some historians argues that in the first mid-1st century B.C. seems to have a multiplication of castros (either for population growth or for other reasons). At the end of the century, coinciding with the final phase of the [[Roman conquest of Hispania|Roman conquest]], some with signs of destruction of the walls and in some cases immediate reoccupation. |
The maximum flowering time is between 4th-2nd century B.C. and show greater business contact with the outside of the south than the north, and the coastal than the inland. Some historians argues that in the first mid-1st century B.C. seems to have a multiplication of castros (either for population growth or for other reasons). At the end of the century, coinciding with the final phase of the [[Roman conquest of Hispania|Roman conquest]], some with signs of destruction of the walls and in some cases immediate reoccupation. |
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=== Types of castros === |
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==== Inland castros ==== |
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These are the most common and characteristic. These are located on hills or prominent elevations, but rarely in high summits. They are circular or oval and have one or more walls. An example is the castro of [[Coaña]] ([[Asturias]]). |
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==== Mountain castros ==== |
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Located in high mountainous areas, are located on the slopes and are oval, with artificial pits on the upper side and walls or embankments into the valley. Dating back to Roman times and are linked to mining. Two examples include the of the Vilar in the [[Sierra de Caurel]] and [[Xegunde]] in [[Fonsagrada]] ([[province of Lugo|Lugo]]). |
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==== Coastal castros ==== |
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Are of varied plant, but usually round or oval, adapting to the terrain. The natural defenses of the sea are complemented by walls and moats into the inland. These are very abundant and an example are the [[Castro of Baroña|Baroña]] in the Sierra of Barbanza. |
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=== Urbanism of the castros === |
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[[File:Galice castro.jpg|thumb|left|Castro of Baroña, in [[Galicia (Spain)|Galicia]].]] |
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The Castro villages tend to be constructed in cleared hills, rocky headlands or peninsulas that stretch into the sea, which provides visibility, defense and the contour domain. The place of settlement is given also in terms of natural resources exploited by the residents. The castros have an upper enclosure, the "croa" and a series of terraces laid down where are the buildings. Each of these sections may be limited by walls, parapets or pits. Sometimes there is a kind of additions, the antecastros, which is also surrounded by walls but do not harbor houses, so it is assumed that these were intended for animals or orchards. |
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The castros tend to have a single entrance, which also serves to prevent passage. In some cases is a simple thickening of the tops of the walls, in others, a panel of the wall surpasses the other, forming a narrow corridor. Is assumed to be closed with wooden doors. |
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The defenses of the castros not seem to meet war needs, but of prestige and symbolic boundaries of the inhabited space. In fact, few weapons were found. In addition to natural defenses, there are structures of three types: |
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* '''Ramparts'''. Terrain variations formed by earth and stone, which can be natural. These are the basis of the defenses and usually comes from the rubble of the foundational works in the interior. |
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* '''Parapets'''. Artificial elevation of the terrain in the most vulnerable points (entrances and flat areas). |
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* '''Trenches'''. Gabias long and deep, usually associated with the parapets, which can be dug into soil or rock. |
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* '''Walls'''. [[Masonry]] defenses of varied types, such as two parallel walls of stone with stone fill. From the inside up to them by wooden stairs, recessed slabs, ramps or rocks. There may be defensive towers at the accesses to the doors. Are later elements. |
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The most common is the absence of urban organization. In the 1st century appear clusters of buildings ("neighborhoods"), consisting of several buildings surrounded by a wall with one opening facing the street. This arrangement is common in large towns, and in more modest towns like Castro do Vieito. These may be households in which a building would be housing and the other, silos and warehouses. The houses do not share dividing walls, but are separated from the others, is not known whether a reflection of the idiosyncratic to this culture or because of the difficulty to do in the circular building. Nor have windows. |
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The floor was of mud houses trod. Prior to II-III century a. C., the walls are usually built of adobe, with a central pole. Subsequently used masonry more or less horizontal rows (or polygonal, in some cases). The covers were made of branches covered with mud and reinforced by subsequent weights or tiles. From the first century and due to Roman influence, become more abundant square or rectangular. The essential element of a home is home, that was changing was at the center and was made of slate or clay and I late shifts to one side and is, in some cases, shingles. |
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It is suspected that some large buildings, where a stone bench runs along the wall and the remains are not a room, they could have been meeting venues. It has also located kilns and potter, preferably next to the exits or abroad. |
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== See Also == |
== See Also == |
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Revision as of 05:31, 6 March 2011
A Castro is a fortified settlement, usually pre-Roman, some from late Bronze Age and Iron Age, the oldest research associated with the culture Celtic. These are frequently found in the Spain, particularly in the northwest with the Castro culture and on the plateau with Las Cogotas culture.
The word castro comes from the Latin castrum, which means "hill fort".
Castros of the Castro culture
The castro is a fortified village that began to inhabit from the 6th century B.C., lacking streets of right angles and full of construction almost always circular. The oldest houses were mostly of straw-mud and the latest masonry. The roof was made of branches and mud and after long poles. Basically, they were unique rooms. These are located in naturally protected areas (heights, riots rivers, small peninsulas), close of sources and arable land and on the border between these and higher areas of grazing.
The castros were protected by one or more pits, parapets and walls that bordered the inhabited recint, may have in its acceses a torreón that controlled the entry ways to itself or another strategic location.
In times of conflict, the people who lived in open field moved to these buildings, located at strategic locations to ensure their safety. Could also have other purposes such as control of territory, vigilance of crops, etc.
Its situation on the territory compared to other castros suggests that there was a definite strategy when choosing its location, allowing the communication by signals between them as a defensive network.
The maximum flowering time is between 4th-2nd century B.C. and show greater business contact with the outside of the south than the north, and the coastal than the inland. Some historians argues that in the first mid-1st century B.C. seems to have a multiplication of castros (either for population growth or for other reasons). At the end of the century, coinciding with the final phase of the Roman conquest, some with signs of destruction of the walls and in some cases immediate reoccupation.
Types of castros
Inland castros
These are the most common and characteristic. These are located on hills or prominent elevations, but rarely in high summits. They are circular or oval and have one or more walls. An example is the castro of Coaña (Asturias).
Mountain castros
Located in high mountainous areas, are located on the slopes and are oval, with artificial pits on the upper side and walls or embankments into the valley. Dating back to Roman times and are linked to mining. Two examples include the of the Vilar in the Sierra de Caurel and Xegunde in Fonsagrada (Lugo).
Coastal castros
Are of varied plant, but usually round or oval, adapting to the terrain. The natural defenses of the sea are complemented by walls and moats into the inland. These are very abundant and an example are the Baroña in the Sierra of Barbanza.
Urbanism of the castros
The Castro villages tend to be constructed in cleared hills, rocky headlands or peninsulas that stretch into the sea, which provides visibility, defense and the contour domain. The place of settlement is given also in terms of natural resources exploited by the residents. The castros have an upper enclosure, the "croa" and a series of terraces laid down where are the buildings. Each of these sections may be limited by walls, parapets or pits. Sometimes there is a kind of additions, the antecastros, which is also surrounded by walls but do not harbor houses, so it is assumed that these were intended for animals or orchards.
The castros tend to have a single entrance, which also serves to prevent passage. In some cases is a simple thickening of the tops of the walls, in others, a panel of the wall surpasses the other, forming a narrow corridor. Is assumed to be closed with wooden doors.
The defenses of the castros not seem to meet war needs, but of prestige and symbolic boundaries of the inhabited space. In fact, few weapons were found. In addition to natural defenses, there are structures of three types:
- Ramparts. Terrain variations formed by earth and stone, which can be natural. These are the basis of the defenses and usually comes from the rubble of the foundational works in the interior.
- Parapets. Artificial elevation of the terrain in the most vulnerable points (entrances and flat areas).
- Trenches. Gabias long and deep, usually associated with the parapets, which can be dug into soil or rock.
- Walls. Masonry defenses of varied types, such as two parallel walls of stone with stone fill. From the inside up to them by wooden stairs, recessed slabs, ramps or rocks. There may be defensive towers at the accesses to the doors. Are later elements.
The most common is the absence of urban organization. In the 1st century appear clusters of buildings ("neighborhoods"), consisting of several buildings surrounded by a wall with one opening facing the street. This arrangement is common in large towns, and in more modest towns like Castro do Vieito. These may be households in which a building would be housing and the other, silos and warehouses. The houses do not share dividing walls, but are separated from the others, is not known whether a reflection of the idiosyncratic to this culture or because of the difficulty to do in the circular building. Nor have windows.
The floor was of mud houses trod. Prior to II-III century a. C., the walls are usually built of adobe, with a central pole. Subsequently used masonry more or less horizontal rows (or polygonal, in some cases). The covers were made of branches covered with mud and reinforced by subsequent weights or tiles. From the first century and due to Roman influence, become more abundant square or rectangular. The essential element of a home is home, that was changing was at the center and was made of slate or clay and I late shifts to one side and is, in some cases, shingles.
It is suspected that some large buildings, where a stone bench runs along the wall and the remains are not a room, they could have been meeting venues. It has also located kilns and potter, preferably next to the exits or abroad.
See Also
- Castros in Asturias
- Castros in Ávila
- Castros in Cantabria
- Castros in the Basque Country
- Castros in Galicia
- Hill fort
- Oppidum
- Gaztelu zahar
External links
- Official website of the Castro of Chao Samartín and its Museum. A look at the Castro culture in western Asturias and archaeological research in motion
- Castros catalog of Ferrol, Narón and Valdoviño.
- Veton territory. Necropolis of La Osera, Castro of la Mesa de Miranda, Chamartin de la Sierra (Ávila)
- The Recent prehistory in Asturias
- Castros and castra in Cantabria. Fortifications from the beginning of the Iron Age to the wars with Rome. Catalog, review and update