Advertisement
Articles

Experimental Archaeology at L’Esquerda – Crops, Storage, Metalcraft and Earthworks in Mediaeval and Ancient Times

Experimental Archaeology at L’Esquerda – Crops, Storage, Metalcraft and Earthworks in Mediaeval and Ancient Times

By Imma Ollich, Montserrat de Rocafiguera, Maria Ocaña, Carme Cubero and Oriol Amblàs

Archaeology, New Approaches in Theory and Techniques, edited by Imma Ollich-Castanyer (InTech, 2012)

Introduction: The archaeological site of l’Esquerda is placed in the inlands of Catalonia, in the town of Roda de Ter, county of Osona, 70 Km north from Barcelona. The site occupies a big peninsula of 12 ha over the river Ter. It is situated in the intersection between a fertile and plane plateau called Plana de Vic, and some scarped and bushy mountains named “Les Guilleries”, crossed by the river Ter on its way to Girona and the coast. The site is only accessible from the north face where the walls were built and its particular placement makes it be an outstanding strategic location in the inlands of Catalonia, with natural protection

Advertisement

The site was inhabited during a long period. The earliest evidences are dated back to late bronze-age, by some hand-made potteries. The hypothesis of an early Iberian phase has been recently established for the site.

Later, in the 5th century BC, a strong oppidum was built there. The structure takes profit of the natural geology of the environment and a big wall was built in the northern face. It is a huge barrier-shaped wall, with two massive towers in its front. All the structure is made on coarse rough stones without mortar. From an archaeological insight of the destruction levels, the highest part of the structure is presumed have been built in clay.

Advertisement

Click here to read this article from Intech

Advertisement