Peña Bartolo o El Castillejo
The site's importance lies in its role as a key area for understanding the social changes brought about by the Islamic conquest of the Iberian Peninsula, as well as offering insight into lesser-known historical periods such as the late Roman era. The settlement is easily identifiable as it is located on a limestone rock known as Peña Bartolo. This rock stands out in the landscape and, on its southeast face, there are half a dozen tombs carved into the rock, clearly influenced by late Roman traditions. The burials are located in an elevated area associated with a settlement. Evidence of this settlement has been found in the form of ceramic and construction materials on the surface.
This settlement is similar to others documented in different parts of the Peninsula and is identified with a model (the location of tombs in elevated areas next to a settlement) which was used to define a spatial hierarchy. Furthermore, on the southern and eastern slopes, which are made up of a sandy geological matrix and are occupied by an old olive grove, abundant ceramic remains from periods later than the tombs' chronology have been identified, as well as structures of relevance, which are also associated with that chronology. Soil has been removed on three terraces on the southern and eastern slopes, where abundant remains have appeared.
Specifically, the largest number of these remains has been found on the eastern slope of the upper terrace. The cut of the slopes reveals several transversely cut holes that have been identified as tombs. These are oriented in a north-south direction, and the arrangement in which they are found in the profile suggests at least three levels. On the same terrace, a transverse stone wall has also been detected. Further south on the upper terrace, a series of wider holes filled with dark material appear. These could be silos, as they appear to be associated with seeds, which would explain their apparent concentration in a specific area. The silos may also be distributed across two levels.
On the intermediate terrace, evidence of structures has also been found. The potential of these structures will be evaluated during archaeological investigations to provide more information. Finally, on the lower terrace, which is defined by two spurs that delimit this area, there is a clear concentration of ceramic materials on the surface, as well as some remains of walls similar to those described above. However, these are much more dispersed and separated in space, perhaps as a consequence of the greater distance to the summit and, therefore, to the possible centre of the settlement.
A few years ago, an investigation was carried out in these lands and it was verified that this space was a peasant settlement or farmhouse dating back to the seventh century. Medieval materials such as ceramics and different types of bones were found in its soils.
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