Geoarchaeology of defensive moats: its importance for site localization, evolution and formation process reconstruction of archaeological sites in NE Spain

• Published in: Journal of archaeological science Vol. 50; pp. 383 - 393
• Main Authors: Peña-Monné, J.L., Rubio-Fernández, V., González-Pérez, J.R., Rodanés, J.M., Picazo, J.V., Medina, J., Vázquez, M.P., Sampietro-Vattuone, M.M., Pérez-Lambán, F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.10.2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: Defensive moat; Europe; Geoarchaeology; Iberian period; Iron Age; Metal Ages; Prehistory and protohistory; South West Europe; Iron Age; Europe; Spain; Geoarchaeology; Iron Age; Defensive moat; Iberian period; Stratigraphy; Ditch; Archaeological site; Geoarcheology
• ISSN: 0305-4403; 1095-9238
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jas.2014.07.026

A geoarchaeological methodology for studying defensive moats is proposed that localises and reconstructs the evolution and formation processes of archaeological sites in NE Spain. This paper analyses three cases. Firstly, a moat at Puig Pelegrí, an Iberian site (Second Iron Age) where little infill is preserved in the moat, and therefore, the materials removed and deposited when the moat was excavated are analysed. Secondly, the stratigraphy of the infill of a moat at Cabezo de la Cruz (a well preserved site from the First Iron Age) is examined. Thirdly, a moat at Carrassumada (a highly eroded site from the Iberian period in the Second Iron Age) is analysed. The results presented in this paper highlight the importance of sedimentary contexts for understanding human occupation in semi-arid regions. •We propose a methodology to study defensive moats in eroded archaeological sites.•We analyze three different cases of defensive moats through this proposal.•The infill of defensive moats contains important information about the archaeological site evolution.