The cuco is a type of construction made with the dry stone technique, in Valencia. Within the Valencian autonomous community (''Comunidad Valenciana'') they are located geographically in the regions of the valley of

Ayora Ayora ( va, Aiora) is a municipality in the ''comarca'' of Valle de Ayora in the Valencian Community, Spain. It lies in the inland part of the Valencian Community on the border of the provinces of Albacete and Alicante. The Valley of Ayora runs ...

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Cofrentes Cofrentes (Valencian: Cofrents) is a town in the province of Valencia. There is a nuclear power plant A nuclear power plant (NPP) is a thermal power station in which the heat source is a nuclear reactor. As is typical of thermal power stati ...

, La Costera and La Canal de Navarrés. The latter concentrates the greatest number of these constructions, highlighting quantitatively the entire municipality of Enguera. They use the raw materials found in their environment, rarely used manufactured materials. Two types of stone are used, the limestone that is used in the body of the construction, the one that holds the cover and the cover stone (tap: (es:) ''Margas muy calcáreas, de color claro, que en este ámbito geográfico se conocen con el nombre de "tap"'' (Very calcareous margas, of a light color, which in this geographical area are known as "tap") · (Darder, 1929, 603). white marls), lighter, on the deck. Cubierta de un cuco

Typology

The typology of the constructions is very varied. Round-plan constructions predominate, although those of quadrangular plan are frequent. In occasion the ''cuco'' adapts to the relief of the land and adopts an irregular plan. The covering systems are all the same. A false dome is built by approaching courses. The covering of the access spans is made with large slabs as a lintel. Other typologies are documented as two slabs supported on both sides of the span, the approach of courses or the ''adovelado'' (with ''dovelas'') arch (built with irregular slabs arranged radially). Inside the ''cucos'' complementary structures are found: fireplace, cupboard, manger, etc. They are usually free buildings, although sometimes they are attached to the roadways (terraces); or they can have a quadrangular annex space.

Functionality

They are constructions destined to the refuge and temporary stays of the agriculturists. Its occupation used to be seasonal, coinciding with the moments of greater work in the agricultural parcels. Its use is different from that in other areas of the Valencian Community where it is linked to livestock.

References

Bibliography

* Darder Pericas, B. (1929): La estructura geológica de los Valles de Montesa y Enguera (Prov. de Valencia). En : Memorias de la Real Sociedad Española de Historia Natural, T. XV (2); p. 603 - 610.
García Aparicio, M y Castellano Castillo, J. J. (1993): Plan de recuperación de las construcciones rurales en la sierra de Enguera. Un modelo de actuación. ''Zahora Nº 38'', pp. 223-254.
* Castellano Castillo, J. J. (2001): Los Cucos de la Sierra de Enguera. Ayuntamiento de Enguera; 130 págs. {{DEFAULTSORT:Cuco construction, Valencia Vernacular architecture Architecture in Spain Buildings and structures in the Valencian Community

Typology

Functionality

See also

References

Bibliography