Past and present Geomorphological hazard and cultural heritage loss in El Castellar castle scarp (central Ebro Basin, Spain)

José Luis Peña-Monné; M. Marta Sampietro-Vattuone; Marta Espinalt-Brillas; Francisco J. Gutiérrez-González

doi:10.18172/cig.5204

Authors

José Luis Peña-Monné Departamento de Geografía y Ordenación del Territorio, Universidad de Zaragoza, and IUCA, Zaragoza
M. Marta Sampietro-Vattuone Laboratorio de Geoarqueología, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán-CONICET https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7681-070X
Marta Espinalt-Brillas Oficina eSalut, Generalitat de Catalunya
Francisco J. Gutiérrez-González Archeologist, Research collaborator, Universidad de Zaragoza

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18172/cig.5204

Keywords:

MCA, LIA, slopes, meanders, geoarchaeology

Abstract

The ruins of the Medieval castle and village of El Castellar are located on an abrupt 1.2-km-long scarp of Miocene gypsums, in the central sector of the Ebro depression. The Medieval remains of the main El Castellar castle are perched on a 100 m cliff on the Ebro River. Considering the historical and geoarchaeological relevance of El Castellar settlement, this investigation aimed to study the geomorphological and paleoenvironmental context of the site during and after the settlement and its later evolution, including its current state. Geomorphological data suggest that in Medieval times its constructions were favored by the MCA environmental conditions. During that times, the Ebro River was located in a centered position on its floodplain, and lateral alluvial fans protected the scarp from basal erosion. Later, during the LIA, great climatic flows and recurrent floods changed the river dynamics and promoted the river channel movement against the scarp, destabilizing its foot and generating large landslides and rockfalls, thus promoting its retreat. The village buildings and castle at the top of the scarp were seriously damaged. For several reasons, the area is not easily accessible, but it still contains a relevant archaeological heritage that deserves to be studied and preserved.

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Author Biography

M. Marta Sampietro-Vattuone, Laboratorio de Geoarqueología, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán-CONICET

Directora

Laboratorio de Geoarqueologia

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