Castro of Zambujal

Zambujal (also Castro do Zambujal ) is a fortified settlement of the Bronze Age ( 3rd and 2nd millennium BC) in the Iberian Peninsula, whose origins already in the Neolithic 4th millennium. It is situated on a mountain ridge near Torres Vedras in Portugal. Geological analysis, it was found that the associated with the Bell Beaker culture settlement once stood only about a kilometer away from a now silted estuary. Zambujal one of a number of localities in which the earliest copper metallurgy was detected on the Iberian Peninsula. These include Valencina de la Concepción ( Seville ), Los Millares (Almería ), Alcalar (Algarve), Leceia (at the close of the Tagus estuary ) and Zambujal. Around the middle of the 3rd millennium BC, it seems in this context in the estuaries of the rivers Tagus, Guadalquivir and Almería the so-called Bell Beaker phenomenon. Zambujal falls within the core area of early metallurgy in the Iberian Peninsula and the Bell Beaker movement.

Discovery and excavation

With the discovery of the plant by Leonel de Freitas Sampaio Trindade in 1932 only a small hill was visible behind a farmhouse. Excavations were carried out by Leonel Trindade together with Aurélio Ricardo Belo in 1959, 1960 and 1961, the German Archaeological Institute, Madrid Department (DAI Madrid), in collaboration with the Institute of Prehistory and Early History of the University of Freiburg, headed by Edward Sang champion and Hermanfrid Schubart 1964, 1966, 1968, 1970, 1971 and 1973. in 1994, new excavations of the DAI were begun, focusing on the area of ​​the partially collapsed farmhouse, on outer areas to the east and north, as well as the area below the escarpment to the west. You are not yet completed. The first two campaigns, 1994 and 1995, were under the direction of Michael Art (DAI ) and Hans -Peter Uerpmann of the ( University of Tübingen), the campaign of 2002 under the direction of Michael Art and Elena Morán (now Stadtarchäologin of Lagos ( Portugal) ) and Rui Parreira (now Direção Regional de Cultura do Algarve Faro Portugal). The campaigns of 2004 and 2007 led Michael Art with support from Nina Lutz (University of Marburg ).

Construction and construction phases

The so-called center of the complex, which consisted of a citadel of approximately elliptical shape is particularly well preserved. To the east, so uphill, three more lines of walls ( line II to IV) have been recorded, which sits the mountain spur, at the end of the Citadel ( line I ), secured in the form of successive fixtures section. Most walls were reinforced several times in the course of time through superior outdoor or indoor bowls. A semi-circular, partially or 4 m high wall has on the east side of the citadel is particularly well preserved, having only inside small embrasure -like openings. Hence the name of the plant as Barbican, formerly kennel. They were later added by a Mauerneuverschalung. Inside the complex copper factory was operated at all times. Alterations of that defense concept was amended several times.

By vertically - and horizontally - stratigraphic observations and related, in part consideration of the strategic relationships of buildings to each other a total of 16 consecutive phases could be detected, which could be grouped into five concepts.

  • Phase 1: Massive towers are connected by a one meter wide wall in double-shell technology. In the center causes a small citadel ( line I ), which is uphill secured by a curved section fasteners ( line II -IV) to the east. Based on their radial walls divide between the fixtures section the space into small farms that surround the citadel ring.
  • Phase 2: semi-circular walls with small openings (probably loopholes ) in the form of barbacans be the citadel and probably other lines, such as indicating a large semi-circular wall in line III, enhanced.
  • Phase 3: A superior wall shell and other modifications the loopholes are closed. Barbacans and other small farms and semi- circular towers are filled with large stones, so that increased Platforms.
  • Phase 4: Before the walls of Phase 3 are laterally hollow round towers set, with a superstructure in the form of a Kraggewölbes - it is also called false domes.
  • Phase 5: After large parts of the walls of the first and second line were turned over, a new wall is also built with small inputs, but nothing of the remains.

The plant was many times larger than previously thought, as first revealed the discovery of the fourth wall line with half-round towers which has a similar architectural history as the center. But by prospecting in recent years have been numerous finds on the site east of the fourth line, continue uphill, proven. Inside copper has been processed at all times. Several residential areas have been documented within the fence, but also on the slope below the mountain spur on which the attachment is, seems to have been settled. However, very few remains have been found of round houses, the number of people meet under any circumstances, would have been necessary for the construction and defense of the plant. The nearby bay was of fundamental importance for the development, not only for the food as residues of fish and mussels show, but probably also for the transportation of various terms used in Zambujal materials such as amphibolite, ivory and copper, and the bartering. The end of the settlement in the Bronze Age ( only isolated finds still show a loose settlement until the transition to the Iron Age and then again not until the Middle Ages ) may be associated with the silt of the bay. The finds from the excavations are kept in the Museu Municipal Leonel Trindade de Torres Vedras.

Arachne (archaeological database)
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