Archaeological remains from the siege of Madinat Basta (Baza, Spain), by the catholic monarchs in 1489

The Catholic Monarchs (Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon) besieged the cities of the last Islamic kingdom on the Iberian Peninsula during the War of Granada (1482-1492), until surrender the capital of the Nasrid dynasty, Madinat Garnata and Madina Alhambra. The military campaigns were strategically programmed. A series of cities was chosen so that their fall would cause the surrender of a part of the territory, due to a domino effect. The capture of Madinat Basta (Baza), to the extreme North of the Nasrid kingdom, was seen as an easy target by the strategists of the Catholic Monarchs. However, the battle-hardened defence of the population and the special configuration and territorial layout of the city resulted in one of the hardest sieges of the campaign, lasting from mid-June to the beginning of December, 1489. To achieve this goal they adopted a strategy that Scipio Africanus the Younger had already developed in 133 B.C., when he surrounded the Celtiberian city of Numantia. Around Baza there are archaeological remains of different structures that can be linked to this conflict. In this communication we have analysed the fortification works that could have been built during the Christian siege of 1489, on the basis of the archaeological evidence and the historical written sources.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Guarding the border: watchtowers of the Nasrid Kingdom of Granada. Characterization and vulnerability assessment

RUIZ-JARAMILLO, J. y GARCÍA-PULIDO, L.J., 2018. Guarding the border: watchtowers of the Nasrid Kingdom of Granada. Characterization and vulnerability assessment. Heritage 2018: 6th International Conference on Heritage and Sustainable Development. Granada: Green Lines Institute for Sustainable Development, pp. 1511-1518The Islamic Nasrid kingdom of Granada occupied the mountainous areas of the south-eastern of the Iberian Peninsula. The frontier between the Nasrid kingdom and the Christian kingdom of Castile from 1232 to 1492 was controlled by an extensive network of watchtowers built by Nasrid through the provinces of Granada, Malaga, Almeria and the eastern parts of Jaen, Cordoba and Cadiz. They allowed controlling this frontier stablishing visual communication between them and the Nasrid centre at the Alhambra citadel. Even protected by Spanish Heritage law, many of these medieval towers and their cultural landscapes are in severe risk be-cause of anthropic action as well as natural deterioration. Within the framework of the R&D project called ‘Las atalayas que defendieron el reino nazarí de Granada. Análisis y docu-mentación científica (Nazalaya)”, the towers are being studied. As a complement of planimetry obtained by procedures as photogrammetry or terrestrial laser scanning (TLS), complete architectural surveys using non-destructive techniques are being performed as part of the analysis to obtain a global description of construction systems used.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tec

Muslim heritage and environment: the case of the watchtowers of the nasrid kingdom of Granada (thirteenth to fifteenth century)

Luis José García-Pulido y Jonathan Ruiz-Jaramillo. “Muslim heritage and environment: the case of the watchtowers of the nasrid kingdom of Granada (thirteenth to fifteenth century)”. En: Heritage 2018. Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Heritage and Sustainable Development (10th Anniversary Edition) Granada, Spain, 12-15 June 2018. Edited by Rogério Amoêda, Sérgio Lira, Cristina Pinheiro, Juan M. Santiago Zaragoza, Julio Calvo Serrano, Fabián García Carrillo. Editorial Universidad de Granada y Green Lines Institute for Sustainable Development, Granada, 2018. e-ISBN 978-84-338-6261-7This paper is devoted to the study of the different towers of the Nasrid kingdom of Granada (1232 to 1492) and their linked landscapes, as well as the evolution, preservation, resilience or transformation of their environment until present days. These late Islamic territories in medieval Iberia occupied the mountainous areas of the southeastern area of today’s Spain. There, a natural border was established between the Nasrid kingdom and the expansion of Castile during more than two centuries and a half. To control this frontier and establish visual communication between it and the Nasrid power centres lead by the Alhambra citadel, an extensive network of watchtowers and defensive towers linked to farmsteads was constructed. These towers are located in unique sites; being erected as reference landmarks of the territories on which they stand. These fortifications, with very diverse typology and morphology, are a faithful testimony to the different territorial structure that has taken place throughout history.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech. This paper has been written within the framework of the Spanish Proyecto del Plan Nacional I+D+i (Programa Estatal de Fomento de la Investigación Científica y Técnica de Excelencia) entitled ‘Las atalayas que defendieron el reino nazarí de Granada. Análisis y documentación científica (Nazalaya)’ (‘The watchtowers that defended the nasrid kingdom of Granada. Analysis and scientific survey’, HAR2016-79689-P), directed by PhD Luis José García-Pulido and PhD Jonathan Ruiz Jaramillo. This contribution is also been framed within the projects ‘La construcción de un paisaje: arquitectura de tapial en la Alta Andalucía en el siglo XIII. Estudio y análisis del sistema de torres andalusíes en el valle de Segura de la Sierra’ (‘The building of a Landscape: rammed earth architecture in High Andalusia during the thirteenth century. Analysis of the andalusí tower system in the Segura de la Sierra valley’, Proyecto de Investigación Precompetitivo (mod. A) from the Plan Propio de la Universidad de Málaga), and ‘Torres medievales y modernas conservadas en Andalucía. Documentación gráfica, análisis científico e interrelaciones’ (‘Medieval and Modern towers preserved in Andalusia. Graphical survey, scientific analysis and interrelations’, X Convocatoria de Proyectos de Investigación de la Fundación Pública Andaluza Centro de Estudios Andaluces en la modalidad de proyectos individuales, PRY/259/17)

El sistema de abastecimiento hidráulico de la Almunia de los Alijares. Estado de la cuestión

The extraction of gold deposits from the Hill of the Sun (Cerro del Sol) using hydraulic mining techniques could go back to the end of the 2nd century B.C. Much later, in the last quarter of 14th century, the Nasrid monarch Mu™ammad V, one of the builders of the Alhambra, decided to locate the Palace of the Alijares well above the limit line marked by the Royal Channel (Acequia Real). The relationship between the Roman hydraulic system on the Hill of the Sun and others developed in Islamic times could contain the keys to an historical problem that has not been solved: explaining the system of water supply to this royal palace

El sistema de torres de origen medieval en el valle de Segura de la Sierra. La construcción de un paisaje

Tras la creación del reino Taifa de Saqura en el siglo XI, la medina de Segura de la Sierra controlaría un amplio territorio dentro de las sierras que jalonan esta zona. Ante el peligro de los ejércitos castellanos, durante los siglos XII y XIII, la capital de esta cora y las alquerías circundantes, levantaron sus propias estructuras defensivas. Después de la conquista cristiana en el siglo XIII, y dado su estratégico carácter fronterizo con los reinos musulmanes de Granada y Murcia, este área fue entregada a la Orden de Santiago, convirtiéndose la Encomienda de Segura en un lugar clave en la defensa de esta extensa comarca montañosa. De este periodo medieval todavía subsisten en el valle de Segura de la Sierra, en diferentes estados de conservación, más de dieciséis torres que estaban a menudo englobadas en un recinto fortificado. Se trata de un conjunto único de elementos de arquitectura en tapial que requiere ser investigado, conocido y preservado, constituyendo una magnífica herencia patrimonial. La oportunidad que brindan estas construcciones medievales, que en su mayoría no han sido intervenidas nunca desde su construcción, nos ha permitido conocer en la investigación realizada aspectos funcionales, tipológicos, históricos, constructivos y formales de las torres, como paso previo a establecer métodos de restauración y conservación eficaces. La significación histórica y las referencias culturales de estos elementos en relación a su implantación en el territorio así como el interés de los datos obtenidos son las principales contribuciones de este trabajo.With the establishment of the Taifa kingdom of Segura in the 11th century, its capital would control a wide mountainous territory in the Southeast of Spain. During the 12th and 13th centuries, faced with the threat of the Castilian armies, Segura and the surrounding qarya-s built several defensive fortresses. After the Christian conquest of this territory around 1214, Segura was donated to the Military Order of Santiago. Due to its strategic position on the border of the Islamic kingdoms of Granada and Murcia, the Encomienda of Segura was a key area for the defense of this extensive mountainous region. As a result, in this territory there are still remains of a well-preserved tower system built in the Middle Ages using rammed-earth technology, which makes up and defines the landscape of this natural area landscape. This collection of historic buildings is a unique set of defensive structures with more than sixteen towers, often with a fortified enclosure, that represents a magnificent heritage that should be investigated, known and preserved. An exhaustive analysis has been carried in these never restored before medieval buildings, with an in-depth study and survey of their functional, typological, historical, constructive and morphological features, as a previous step to apply a restoration and conservation methodology. The historical significance and cultural references of these towers with their territory, and the interest of the discoveries obtained due to the research made, are the principal contributions of this paper

Inspección y análisis científico de las torres atalaya que defendieron el último reino islámico de la Península Ibérica

The Islamic Nasrid kingdom of Granada occupied the mountainous areas of the south-eastern area of the Iberian Peninsula. The Baetic mountain range worked as a natural frontier between the Nasrid kingdom and the Christian kingdom of Castile from 1232 to 1492. An extensive network of watchtowers was built by Nasrid to control this frontier stablishing visual communication between them and the Nasrid centre at the Alhambra citadel. Many of them are still standing, disperse through the provinces of Granada, Malaga, Almeria and the eastern parts of Jaen, Cordoba and Cadiz. Even being this military architecture protected by Spanish Heritage law, many of these medieval towers and their cultural landscapes are in severe risk. There are studies of individual towers, but any global comparative study has been developed. For this reason, within the framework of the R&D project called ‘Las atalayas que defendieron el reino nazarí de Granada. Análisis y documentación científica (Nazalaya)” (HAR2016-79689-P) financed by the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness of Spain, the towers are being studied as individual exemplars as well as components of the same typological group. This generates a complete documentation constituted by a homogenous and exhaustively planimetry which supplements the existing information and enabling comparative analysis. Furthermore complete architectural surveys are being carried out using techniques as photogrammetry. In addition to the analysis of construction systems, the structural safety of these towers is evaluated formulating guidelines for its restoration.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech. Proyecto del Plan Nacional I+D+i (Programa Estatal de Fomento de la Investigación Científica y Técnica de Excelencia) entitled ‘Las atalayas que defendieron el reino nazarí de Granada. Análisis y documentación científica (Nazalaya)’ (HAR2016-79689-P) Proyecto de Investigación Precompetitivo (mod. A) del Plan Propio de la Universidad de Málaga ‘La construcción de un paisaje: arquitectura de tapial en la Alta Andalucía en el siglo XIII. Estudio y análisis del sistema de torres andalusíes en el valle de Segura de la Sierra’ X Convocatoria de Proyectos de Investigación de la Fundación Pública Andaluza Centro de Estudios Andaluces en la modalidad de proyectos individuales, PRY/259/17 ‘Torres medievales y modernas conservadas en Andalucía. Documentación gráfica, análisis científico e interrelaciones

A Proposal for the Restoration of the Islamic Towers in the Segura de la Sierra Valley. Significance and Values of this Cultural Landscape

Due to the strategic position of Segura de la Sierra valley (Jaén, Spain) during the 12th and 13th centuries, there were built several defensive fortresses both by Muslims and Christians. As a result, there are still remains of a well-preserved medieval tower system using rammed-earth technology, with more than sixteen towers, often with a fortified enclosure, that represents a magnificent heritage. An exhaustive analysis has been carried out in order to do a scientific restoration of some of them. The research methodology has considered different phases in the stages that should be followed in the guardianship of a historical cultural asset: documenta-tion/investigation, conservation/restoration and dissemination, with the development of a patent. The historical significance and cultural references of these towers with their territory, and the interest of the discoveries obtained due to the research made and the restoration project of some of them, are the principal contributions of this paper.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tec

Una precisa y artística representación gráfica del territorio granadino: el Mapa topográfico de la ciudad de Granada y su término de Francisco Dalmau (1819)

The Mapa topográfico de la ciudad de Granada y su término, conducted by Francisco Dalmau in 1819, combines accuracy and scientific rationality with an exquisite care in the artistic details. It was done several decades before to the earliest works of this matter drawn in other Spanish cities, which started to appear after the development of the Land Tax in Spain in 1845. Although it was not the last cartographic project of this mathematician from Barcelona established in Granada, it has to be considered one of his greatest works.El Mapa topográfico de la ciudad de Granada y su término, dirigido por Francisco Dalmau en 1819, conjuga avanzada precisión y racionalidad científica con un exquisito cuidado en su plasmación artística. Además se adelantó en varias décadas a los trabajos más tempranos de esta índole realizados en otras ciudades españolas, que, en el mejor de los casos comenzaron a materializarse a partir del desarrollo de la Contribución Territorial en España en 1845. Aunque no fue el último proyecto cartográfico de este matemático barcelonés afincado en Granada, sí que podemos considerarlo como su obra cumbre

El sistema de abastecimiento hidráulico de la Almunia de los Alijares. Estado de la cuestión

The extraction of gold deposits from the Hill of the Sun (Cerro del Sol) using hydraulic mining techniques could go back to the end of the 2nd century B.C. Much later, in the last quarter of 14th century, the Nasrid monarch Mu™ammad V, one of the builders of the Alhambra, decided to locate the Palace of the Alijares well above the limit line marked by the Royal Channel (Acequia Real). The relationship between the Roman hydraulic system on the Hill of the Sun and others developed in Islamic times could contain the keys to an historical problem that has not been solved: explaining the system of water supply to this royal palace

El arte al servicio de la representación gráfica y las matemáticas como base del levantamiento topográfico: los mapas realizados por Francisco Dalmau entre 1796 y 1820

Francisco Dalmau (1766-1824) was a Professor of Mathematics who stood out for his scientific qualities and his artistic and humanistic interests. He achieved several titles, such as Individual of the Royal Academy of Natural Sciences and Arts of Barcelona, Professor of Mathematics of the Real Maestranza de Caballería of Granada, Teacher in the School of Noble Arts, Partner of the Royal Economic Society of Granada, Provisional Director of Architecture and Headmaster of the Statistics of the Province of Granada. During his life he carried out a series of maps linked to Granada with excellent results, some of them of big size. They are prominent for their artistic quality and the graphical accuracy for the moment that they were made.Francisco Dalmau (1766-1824) fue catedrático de Matemáticas, destacando por sus cualidades científicas y sus inquietudes artísticas y humanísticas. Adquirió numerosos títulos tales como los de Individuo de la Real Academia de Ciencias Naturales y Artes de Barcelona, Catedrático de Matemáticas de la Real Maestranza de Caballería de Granada y Profesor en la Escuela de Nobles Artes, Socio de Número de la Real Sociedad Económica de Granada, Director Interino de la Sala de Arquitectura y Director de la Estadística de la Provincia de Granada. A lo largo de su vida acometió con resultados excelentes la elaboración de una serie de mapas vinculados a Granada, algunos de ellos de gran formato, en los que resulta notable la calidad artística de su factura y la precisión gráfica para el momento en el que fueron elaborados