The Barranc de Gàfols, also referred as Pomeralet, is an

archaeological site An archaeological site is a place (or group of physical sites) in which evidence of past activity is preserved (either prehistoric or historic or contemporary), and which has been, or may be, investigated using the discipline of archaeology an ...

in Ginestar,

Catalonia Catalonia (; ca, Catalunya ; Aranese Occitan: ''Catalonha'' ; es, Cataluña ) is an autonomous community of Spain, designated as a ''nationality'' by its Statute of Autonomy. Most of the territory (except the Val d'Aran) lies on the north ...

. It is one of the most important

First Iron Age The Iron Age is the final epoch of the three-age division of the prehistory and protohistory of humanity. It was preceded by the Stone Age ( Paleolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic) and the Bronze Age (Chalcolithic). The concept has been mostly a ...

sites in Catalonia, since it presents a continuous occupation since the Last Bronze Age.

Geography

The site is located south of Ginestar, in the west bank of the river Ebro. "Barranc de Gàfols" itself is the denomination of the ravine leading close to the Ebro west of the site. In the northern part, the site is limited by cliffs. Because of this orography, the site flourished in a natural platform, above sea level.

History

The site was first occupied during the Late Bronze Age, when

cottages A cottage, during Feudalism in England, England's feudal period, was the holding by a cottager (known as a Cotter (farmer), cotter or ''bordar'') of a small house with enough garden to feed a family and in return for the cottage, the cottager ...

were established. During the First Iron Age, relatively complex rectangular and trapezoid buildings were planned, with the creation of at least 17 households and 3 streets. The structures were built with stone baseboards and

adobe Adobe ( ; ) is a building material made from earth and organic materials. is Spanish for ''mudbrick''. In some English-speaking regions of Spanish heritage, such as the Southwestern United States, the term is used to refer to any kind of e ...

walls. Some of these buildings correspond to private households, since a

fireplace A fireplace or hearth is a structure made of brick, stone or metal designed to contain a fire. Fireplaces are used for the relaxing ambiance they create and for heating a room. Modern fireplaces vary in heat efficiency, depending on the design. ...

has been found in each one of the structures, except one which has been identified as a common building devoted to agricultural activities, due to the presence of

stone mill Millstones or mill stones are stones used in gristmills, for grinding wheat or other grains. They are sometimes referred to as grindstones or grinding stones. Millstones come in pairs: a convex stationary base known as the ''bedstone'' and ...

s. A water basin was carved in the natural rock, possibly for animal maintenance. The economy of the settlers was based on agriculture ( grapevine,

acorn The acorn, or oaknut, is the nut of the oaks and their close relatives (genera ''Quercus'' and '' Lithocarpus'', in the family Fagaceae). It usually contains one seed (occasionally two seeds), enclosed in a tough, leathery shell, and borne ...

) and livestock and relied in subsistence, but eventually succeed in the creation of

surplus Surplus may refer to: * Economic surplus, one of various supplementary values * Excess supply, a situation in which the quantity of a good or service supplied is more than the quantity demanded, and the price is above the equilibrium level determ ...

, thus leading to a more complex society. Contact with Phoenician traders took place, since the presence of Phoenician

amphora An amphora (; grc, ἀμφορεύς, ''amphoreús''; English plural: amphorae or amphoras) is a type of container with a pointed bottom and characteristic shape and size which fit tightly (and therefore safely) against each other in storag ...

e has been recorded on the site. The site suffered a devastating fire that interrupted any kind of human activity around 550 BC, coinciding with the beginning of the Second Iron Age.

Excavations

The site was discovered in 1988 while surveying the

Rivera Rivera () is the capital of Rivera Department of Uruguay. The border with Brazil joins it with the Brazilian city of Santana do Livramento, which is only a street away from it, at the north end of Route 5. Together, they form an urban area of aro ...

and Baix Ebre. In 1990, excavation works began in Gàfols and continued until 1998. Later, the unearthed structures were subjected to

restoration Restoration is the act of restoring something to its original state and may refer to: * Conservation and restoration of cultural heritage ** Audio restoration ** Film restoration ** Image restoration ** Textile restoration * Restoration ecology ...

works.

References

{{reflist Archaeological sites in Catalonia Bronze Age sites in Europe Iron Age sites in Spain