Galician archaeology

A través de este artículo presentamos la exposición «Galaicos, un pueblo entre dos mundos» que entre los años 2018 y 2020 itinerará por varios museos de la geografía española. Partiendo de los objetivos y la tesis sobre las que se fundamenta la exposición, iremos desglosando cada uno de los ámbitos que la componen, ilustrado ello a través de los yacimientos arqueológicos clave de cada momento.
Through this article we present the exhibition «Galaicos, a people between two worlds» that between 2018 and 2020 will travel through several museums of the Spanish geography. Based on the objectives and the thesis on which the exhibition is based, we will theoretically break down each of the areas that comprise it, illustrated through the key archaeological sites of each moment.

Aunque se piensan como edificios diferentes pazo y castillo son dos caras de un mismo proceso de señorialización. No obstante, la percepción en la edad media de estos edificios dependía más de la sociedad que de la pura forma arquitectónica. Así, la nobleza pudo jugar y presentar su poder apoyándose en una arquitectura diversa y funcional. Esta diversidad, permite entender y contextualizar Torres do Allo, como un edificio propio de la nobleza agrupada en torno a la Casa de Moscoso, donde diversos pazos y castillos conviven, se transforman e incluso se confunden.

In 385 AD, Augusta Treverorum bore witness to the trial of Priscillian and a number of his followers. The cruel sentence failed to have the deterrent effect that the most fanatical representatives of Christian orthodoxy had expected: at that time a profound schism was affecting the churches of Hispania.

It was at this time when Gallaecia became especially significant for the followers of the unfortunate Abulae episcopus, becoming the main bastion of Priscillianism in the known world. In this paper we explore the theories expounded by researchers to explain this unique phenomenon, scrutinising the available sources, analysing the known archaeological evidence that remains in modern-day Galicia, and finally we will present our own interpretation of the reasons that allowed Priscillianism to spread throughout Gallaecia in the latter part of the fourth century AD.

[GL] O feito de contar cunha terminoloxía propia é un dos elementos que mellor exemplifica a autonomía e solvencia adquiri-das por unha disciplina científica. Ao manterse un discurso formal-mente correcto, sensible e axustado ao obxecto de estudo redúcense os equívocos na transmisión do coñecemento. Nesta liña, a partir do estudo histórico do vocábulo castrametación, neste traballo afondaremos na casuística específica da arqueoloxía, na que este proceso dista de estar concluído-o que transmite a imaxe dunha disciplina en construción-, e como a cuestión relació-nase coa escaseza de traballos científicos estritos en galego. Este fenómeno evidencia a necesidade dun debate interno na cons-trución dese corpus terminolóxico propio, pero tamén dunha ac-tiva colaboración interdisciplinar coa lingüística para que no dito proceso non se cometan excesos ou erros de vulto. Palabras chave: Terminoloxía, lexicografía, arqueoloxía, campa-mentos romanos, idade moderna. ---------- [EN] Some reflections on the terminology used in archeology: around the term castrametación and its use in the Galician language. Abstract: The development of a terminology is one of the elements which exemplifies the independence and rigour of a given scientific discipline. The maintenance of a formal, sensitive and definable

The aim of this contribution is to assess some of the key topics and research challenges concerning Iron Age goldwork from northwestern Iberia in the light of new data and recent research. The study of the Recouso hoard – one of the most important gold finds in this area – allows us to emphasise technological variability as one of the basic features of this goldworking tradition, as had been already proposed. Secondly, an analysis of the representation of torcs in the material culture of the area is made in order to illustrate the polysemic nature of this object. In addition, chronological information provided by recent fieldwork and radiocarbon dating is discussed to gain new insight into the origins and periodisation of these gold items. Taken as a whole, all this information offers a better understanding of the role of precious metals in Iron Age society.

In recent years, circular sites have been documented in Galicia that stand out in the landscape, and whose apparent formal characteristics have led to them being considered as small fortified settlements dating from the Iron Age. However, excavations carried out in two of these sites have revealed that they were not domestic in nature, and that they do not date from the Iron Age. The excavation of these sites has led to others being uncovered that may have the same features. The aim of this poster is to present the new findings, and their preliminary interpretation.

Galicia is one of the most significant territories regarding mineral-medicinal waters in the Iberian Peninsula. Consequently, its long tradition in studies on the use of those springs gives us wealth information about the archaeological evidences associated to these mineral sources. Therefore, we propose a study of some significant aspects, proposing two main areas of analysis in this region: Caldas de Reis-Cuntis and Riocaldo-Bande. According to these examples, three aspects shall be taken into account: their connection with Roman roads, their strategic placement, and their social, political and cultural significance in the administrative organization of this province.
The result of these reflections will allow us to establish some hypothetical proposals which will help us to set a starting point in our research on the role of these establishments in the political control of Rome in the north-west of the Iberian Peninsula, as well as including new elements of comparison between this region and other areas of the Roman Empire.   

Keywords:
Hydroterapy, Roman roads, Gallaecia, mineral-medicinal waters, aquae sites.

The mural painting of Santa Eulalia de Bóveda reproduced by Elías de Segura.
In addition to its architectural uniqueness, the importance of Santa Eulalia de Bóveda Roman monument is evidenced by the presence inside of a large vaulted space decorated with splendid paintings. The colour and naturalism of the decorative motifs stand out in them, allowing us to distinguish different species of birds arranged in a vegetal environment, among plants, flowers and fruits.
In the Museo Arqueológico Nacional storage areas (in Madrid) are deposited some of the painter Elías de Segura’s works. There are among them a series of drawings and watercolors of part of the pictorial decoration of Santa Eulalia de Bóveda made during the excavations for its discovery.
In this communication, these reproductions of Roman mural painting are presented. At the same time, new information about the author and the vicissitudes of his stay at the monument is provided. All this allows us to enrich the limited knowledge about this archaeological documentation work.

The identification and cataloguing of archaeological sites in Galicia from medieval times has been a problem for the use of the archaeological survey as a basic tool for cataloguing and the difficulty of identifying surface material evidences for this period. In the case of the more obvious medieval fortifications in the landscape, the problem is not so much its location and cataloguing, but their identification and segregation of other chrono typologies, a priori most recurrent in the Galician landscape and with easier identification . We will see the issues that this raises and some illustrative cases of the problem we have.


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A identificação e catalogação de sítios arqueológicos dos tempos medievais na Galicia tem sido um problema pelo uso da prospecção arqueológica como ferramenta básica para a catalogação, pela dificuldade de identificação da evidência material superficial dista cronologia. Para o caso das fortificações medievais, mais evidentes na paisagem onde estão localizadas, o problema não é tanto a sua localização e catalogação, mas a sua identificação e segregação dos outros crono tipos, a priori mais recorrentes na paisagem galega, e de uma identificação mais fácil. Vamos ver as questões que isso levanta e alguns casos ilustrativos desta problemática.

La difusión y la divulgación de la ciencia son parte
fundamental del trabajo de todo investigador, algo en lo
que se pone cada vez más énfasis a la hora de planificar las
políticas de investigación nacionales e internacionales que
buscan una ciencia de carácter más social.
En el caso concreto de la Arqueología, la difusión es
fundamental puesto que, dada la condición de bien público
del Patrimonio Cultural, toda la sociedad en conjunto
es responsable de su conservación y acrecentamiento. Así,
la correcta socialización del conocimiento arqueológico es
clave para generar una conciencia social sobre el valor del
patrimonio y la necesidad de conservarlo.
En los últimos años, el surgimiento de la denominada
Arqueología Pública ha provocado un amplio e interesante
campo de debate teórico y práctico sobre las mejores
formas de integrar a la comunidad en la práctica arqueológica
y la divulgación del conocimiento académico. Buena
parte del debate se centra en el uso de las nuevas tecnologías
para este fin.
Con este marco conceptual, a lo largo de este estudio
se hará una revisión del estado de la divulgación del patrimonio
arqueológico del período medieval en Galicia, un
campo todavía en fase embrionaria en este territorio. Se
analizarán algunos casos relevantes, entre los que destacan
Rocha Forte (Santiago de Compostela), Torre dos Mouros
(Carnota) y las excavaciones de la catedral de Santiago de
Compostela, en los que se ha dado un esfuerzo consciente
en favor de la difusión mediante los canales tradicionales y
los más modernos, intentando precisar cuáles se han mostrado
como los más adecuados para la divulgación del patrimonio
arqueológico.



Science’s diffusion and divulgation is a fundamental
part of every researchers’ work, something that is being
emphasized in the recent times when it comes to design
national and international investigation policies that
search for a science “with and for the society”.
In the particular case of the Archaeology, diffusion is
fundamental, since, given the condition of public domain
of the cultural heritage, all society as a whole is responsible for its conservation and enhancement. Thus, correct socialization
of the archaeological knowledge is a key point to
generate a social conscience about the value of the heritage
and the necessity of its conservation.
In last years, the emergence of Public Archaeology
has generated a wide and interesting theoretical debate
about the best ways of integration of local communities
in archaeological practice and about the divulgation of the
academic knowledge. Much of this debate is focused on
the use of new technologies for this end.
With this conceptual framework, through this work a
revision of the current state of the divulgation of the Galician
archaeological heritage from the medieval times will
be made. This is a field still in an embryonic phase in this
territory. Some of the most relevant cases will be analyzed,
among which stand out Rocha Forte (Santiago de Compostela),
Torre dos Mouros (Carnota) and the excavations
of the Compostela cathedral. In these places, a conscious
effort has been carried out to divulge, through the traditional
channels and the most modern ones, and it will be
pointed out which are the most suited for the archaeological
divulgation.

Sumario: La reaparición de una pequeña hacha de la Edad del Bronce nos permite reencontrarnos con la obra y la metodología de Luís Monteagudo, y elaborar una lectura tipológica de la pieza que va más allá de lo formal. Una tipología escasa y disonante en el NO, pero no así en el ámbito cultural argárico del Sureste, que apunta posibles influencias externas de origen mediterráneo (ca.1800-1500 BC). Hachas de tipo argárico que parecen relacionarse con un espacio metalúrgico diferenciado en torno a las Rías Baixas gallegas, tipológicamente diverso en un acusadamente homogéneo Noroeste hispánico. Un espacio marcadamente costero que coincide con un área de depósitos de estaño abundantes y de fácil acceso y que apunta una posible relación con la explotación y distribución del mismo, clave, además, en el momento de despegue de la metalurgia del bronce. Esa conexión con la cultura argárica abre el camino hacia el mediterráneo para el estaño gallego y, como ya Luís Monteagudo había propuesto, lo introduce en el debate sobre su presencia en el Mediterráneo oriental.
Abstract: The reappearance of a small Bronze Age axe allows us to reengage with Luís Monteagudo's work and methodology, and develop a typological reading of the piece that goes beyond the conventional. A limited and dissonant typology in the NO, but not as it the Argaric cultural sphere of the Southeast, points to possible external influences of Mediterranean origin (ca. 1800-1500 BC). Argaric axes that appear to be connected with a distinct metallurgical space around the Galician Rias Baixas, typologically diverse in a strikingly homogenous Iberian Northwest. A markedly coastal space that coincides with an area of easily accessible and abundant tin deposits, points to a possible relation with the extraction and distribution of the same, essential, besides, in the initiation of bronze metallurgy. This connection with the Argaric Culture paves the way towards the Mediterranean for the Galician tin and, as Luis Monteagudo had proposed, introduces it in the debate about its presence in the Eastern Mediterranean.