Geophysical survey at the frontier of medieval Iberia: The castles of Molina de Aragon and Atienza (Guadalajara, Spain)

Abstract

This paper presents the results of geophysical surveys conducted within two castles in central Iberia: the fortifications of Molina de Aragon and Atienza, both located within the modern province of Guadalajara in Spain. They represent essential case studies for understanding the transformations of the frontier societies of medieval south-western Europe, because both were founded during the Andalusi period, both played a fundamental role at the time of the military confrontations between oppos ing Islamic and Christian states, and both became capitals within the feudal depen dencies of the Crown of Castile during the Late Middle Ages. At present, these castles are uninhabited and protected archaeological sites, with no modern develop ments within their wards; the adjacent towns have developed on the outskirts of their outer walls. Although both castles have been the focus of uneven amounts of archaeological research, geophysical surveys, the first conducted at these sites, have proved to be a fundamental tool not only for planning future archaeological investi gations but also for the data that they have provided on the potential roles of these castle wards.