Campaign 2017 is focused in continue the genetic study of the lineages between the unearthed burials from the site’s necropolis, whose names are still visible on the gravestones, and the inhabitants of the current town that still preserve the same surname
What are we digging?
The archaeological site of “La Mezquita” is located in Cadalso de los Vidrios, a town 75 km from the city of Madrid. Specifically, at the C/ Carretera de Cenicientos nº 1-B, really close from the Palacio del Marqués de Villena.
The archaeological site is composed of two main elements:
First, there are the remains of the romanic-mudejar church (12th-13th centuries), built reusing some strucutres from a previous building (10th 11th centuries) and has later extensions; first to the east -presbytery and apse- and later on to the north -sacristy, bell tower and access portico.
Church heigh before its destruction in 1989 The second element is the necropolis, in which has been possible to determine three diferent burial phases, related with the differents moments of use of the main building, which give and idea of the temporal amplitude of the use of the site and the importance of it to know more about the inhabitants of this town.
Previous campaings
For more than 30 years different archaeological campaings have taken place at this archaeological site that, despite of its name, nowadays is known that the remains were part of the ancient hermitage of the Encomienda de Sant Antonio Abad. However, the appearance ceramics with a clear andalusi tradition, in relation with some rigging from a similar origin, make us to propose the existence of a primitive building from Cordoba’s Umayyad caliphate’s period (10th century) or from Toledo’s taifa’s period (11th century).
First campaings were focused on knowing and assess the real significance of the ecclesial building, extremely damaged after the destruction of almost all its height in 1989 due to an attempt to urbanize the building lot where it is located. During the 90s by the Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM) and, basically, from 2005 by research staff from the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), have been done some excavation campaigns, both the outside necropolis and the burials from inside the building, being able to verify the continuity of the building from 12th-13th centuries until 16th century, when the cult of the actual parish church of the Asunción started, located within the ancient city walls, beginning the abandon of this building.
An inflection point in the site’s history was its inclusion in 2004 in the Network of visitable sites of the Madrid’s Comunity (Red de Yacimientos Visitables de la Comunidad de Madrid), from which have been developed some adequacy works at the site, as the construction of the cover.
Campaign 2016: a new way of analisis from the bioarchaeological perspective
During the last campaing, the work began to know another great value of the site: the necropolis. In this way, a new way of research started focusing in the study of the individuals buried there, which amplitude and long teporal occupation were corroborated during previous campaings, being able to establish that we are in front of a unique site to enlarge the knowledge about ancient/medieval communities that inhabited the foothills of the Sierra de Gredos.
The genesis of this presearch project it’s found in the conervation of some of the burials from inside of the Encomienda de Sant Antonio Abad (today’s archaeologica site of “La Mezquita”), which tombstones still preserve the epigraphs that allow to recongnize the filiation of the individuals buried there, which are related, in some cases, with characteristic surnames from the south-west region of the Sierra Oeste of Madrid.
With these notes as a starting point, it was able to propose as a working hypothesis the possibility to objectively verify the relationship of kinship between the individuals buried under the tombstones of the tombs that still contained epigraphs and recognizable surnames, such as "Gallego" and "Matatoros ", and the census from the inhabitants of this town that conserves as first surname one of both surnames.
Once the campaing was finished, the extraction of DNA samples from molars, where the DNA is best stored, found in both burials. The result was positive and today we are waiting to have funds that allow us to compare it with those living in the locality with whom they share their surname. Also, the first DNA samples have been taken from current inhabitants of the town of Cadalso de los Vidrios.
Campaign 2017: connected to our past.
In view of the impossibility, due to the hardness of the terrain and the serious alteration of the interior of the tombs, to finish the work of archaeological intervention in the selected tombs, during the present campaign 2017 we want to continue the interventions that allow us to extract more viable DNA samples for the comparison between the old and present inhabitants of the locality.
In addition to continuing with the archaeological activities started in 2016, we want to open new tombs that allow us to know more about the ancient inhabitants of Cadalso Vidrios. For this, we have selected those that, despite not having a singular last name as in the previous case, can give us more information. Among them, stands a slab that has some graphic marks, a compass and a wheel, very interesting and under which we still do not know what we can find.
Therefore, during the first phase of the project, which will take place during the months of July and August, excavations of the burial sites intervened in 2016 will continue and the new tombs will be opened, exhuming the individuals buried there and collecting the same necessary samples to accomplish the genetic studies of lineage.
The second phase will continue the work of collecting family data or "Life Stories" of relatives, both men and women, who voluntarily want to provide us information on the studied families "Matatoros" and "Gallego".
In a third phase, September-December 2017, there will be training workshops on archaeological excavation, archaeological prospection, physical anthropology, archaeological photography and archaeological drawing.
Genetic analysis will be carried out over the next few months, along with the analysis of the collected samples from the living individuals of the town who agree to collaborate in this study. The project will be completed with the anthropological study and materials recovered during excavation.
Campaign team 2017
The Campaign Team 2017 is a multidisciplinary group of researchers made up of archaeologists, anthropologists, documentalists and geneticists linked to the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid and the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, as well as external professionals from outside the university world.
Why do we think it is important?
The current campaign has as main objective to know more about the settlement of the town of Cadalso de los Vidrios, through the family lineages that since the Middle Ages can be traced in the foothills of the Sierra de Gredos, after the arrival of new populations to this area after the conquest of the city of Toledo in 1085.
For this, genetics is the tool that will allow us to verify if the present inhabitants of the town that preserve any of the surnames still legible in tombstones, are direct descendants of the subjects buried in these tombs.
In what will we invest the contributions we collect?
Although we have been able to start the campaign during 2016, the continuation of the excavation during the second phase of intervention and, especially to carry out the genetic analysis, due to their high cost, make it necessary to find new ways of financing
The funds raised in this *crowdfunding *campaign will be used to:
Cover accommodation, diet and transportation expenses of team members during the fieldwork phases.
To cover the expenses of the necessary material for the extraction, collection and packaging of the samples of interest for the subsequent genetic analysis.
Initiate, as far as possible, the performance of such analysis.
Schedule of planned activities
The crowdfunding campaign will be launched during the first phase of archaeological interventions, which will take place during the last week of July (23th-29th July) and the second and third of August (from 7th to 20th August), when it is provided for the continuation of the exhumations of the first burials and the opening of the new tombs.
The second phase, lasting approximately twenty days, will be held in late September and early October (from 23th September to 8th October).
The third phase will continue with the work of archaeological excavation of burials started in the first phase, but with a format of training workshop to be taught during the weekends (Friday / Sunday); and the inclusion of contents on "Archaeological Prospection" and "Archaeological Photography".
About the rewards
GUIDED VISITS (INDIVIDUAL)
Guided visits to the site will take place during the two excavation phases (August and September / October in the above-mentioned dates). At the end of the visit, we will offer a tasting of wines from the region offered by one of our sponsors, Bodegas Frontelo.
For more information and to arrange the visits, please contact us through our email
GUIDED VISITS (ASSOCIATIONS AND GROUPS)
Organized visit for associations and groups (max 25 people per pass). Includes guided tour of the site and tourist route for Cadalso during the dates for the archaeological intervention plus visit and wine tasting at the end offered by one of our sponsors, Bodegas Frontelo.
For more information and to arrange the visits, please contact us through our email: [email protected]
MAATERIAL REWARDS (informative dossier, shirts, bags):
The t-shirts and bags will be sent after the crowdfunding campaign ends, when we know the number of patrons interested in these rewards. Look at our designs and choose your size and the bag model you want! (Let us know through our email: [email protected])
The information dossier will be sent in electronic format once the field and laboratory work is completed, approximately at the beginning of 2018.
THEORETICAL-PRACTICAL WORKSHOP OF PHYSICAL AND FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGY:
The workshop, with a duration of a day, will be held in the town of Cadalso de los Vidrios (Madrid). Includes the delivery of a diploma to all attendees.
It will be taught by the anthropologists of the project team, teaching staff of the UCM.
For further information about the date and content of the day, please contact us through our email: [email protected]
THEORETICAL-PRACTICAL WORKSHOP OF FIELD ARCHEOLOGY
The workshop, with a duration of a day, will be held in the town of Cadalso de los Vidrios (Madrid). Includes the delivery of a diploma to all attendees.
It will be taught by the archaeologists and anthropologists of the project team, teaching staff of the UAM and UCM.
For further information about the date and content of the day, please contact us through our email: [email protected]
TALLER FORMATIVO DE ARQUEOLOGÍA PARA ESTUDIANTES (2 DÍAS)
Theoretical-practical workshop of field archeology taught by members of the scientific team of the project. Includes accommodation (1 night), all meals during the duration of the workshop and diploma accrediting attendance and participation.
For further information about the date and content of the day, please contact us through our email: [email protected]
THEORETICAL-PRACTICAL WORKSHOP OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL PROSPECTION
The workshop, with a duration of a day, will be held in the town of Cadalso de los Vidrios (Madrid). Includes the delivery of a diploma to all attendees.
It will be taught by the archaeologists and anthropologists of the project team, teaching staff of the UAM and UCM.
For further information about the date and content of the day, please contact us through our email:[email protected]
ARQUEOPEKES DAY (individual, schools and children's associations)
The day of archeology for children (non-school format) will be held in the town of Cadalso de los Vidrios during a Saturday coinciding with the second phase of excavation. The day will be given by members of the project and free time monitors.
During the same, a drill of excavation will be carried out, so that the children know all the tasks of the archaeological intervention (delimitation of the area, excavation process, registration of the materials found in the workbook that will be delivered during the day adapted to the ages of children ...)..
During the proposed activities will include a breakfast for the children enrolled in the day, as well as the delivery of an excavation kit to attendees.
For more information and to know the location, schedule and exact date of the conference, contact us through our email. Schools, associations and groups of children can set specific dates. The price for groups will vary depending on the number of attendees: [email protected]
ARQUEOJUNIOR DAY (individual, schools and children's associations):
Practical archaeology workshop for young people aged 13 to 18 will be held in the town of Cadalso de los Vidrios during a Saturday coinciding with the second phase of excavation. The day will be given by members of the project and free time monitors.
During the same will be carried out a simulation of excavation and archaeological prospection, aimed at the participants to know all the work of the archaeological intervention handling real archaeological documentation.
For more information and to know the location, schedule and exact date of the conference, contact us through our email. Schools, associations and groups of children can set specific dates. The price for groups will vary depending on the number of attendees: [email protected]
ARCHAEOLOGICAL ROUTE
Guided archaeological route, half-day, held by the members of the scientific team of the project trought the anthropomorphic necropolis near Cadalso de los Vidrios (Prado Porrilla, Media Legua, Piedra Escrita). The Guided Route will take place after archeological intervention works (september/october)
For further information about the date and content of the day, please contact us through our email: [email protected]
MOSAIC WORKSHOP
The children's mosaic workshop will be held in the town of Cadalso de los Vidrios during a Saturday coinciding with the second phase of excavation. The day will be given by members of the team who will provide the participants with the necessary materials to teach the participants in a didactic way their own mosaic and learn more about this decorative technique from the Roman period.
For further information about the date and content of the day, please contact us through our email:[email protected]
ARCHAEOZOOLOGY WORKSHOP
The zooarcheology workshop will be held in the town of Cadalso de los Vidrios, where participants can manage real bone remains of fauna. The different species and their bone structure will be identified; addressing all the information that this brings us to the knowledge and appreciation of the relevance of these studies. The Workshop will take place after archeological intervention works (september/october)
For further information about the date and content of the day, please contact us through our email: [email protected]
LITIC WORKSHOP
During this workshop, given by team members, we will not limit ourselves to the didactics of the lytics itself; as our intention is to approach the Paleolithic ways of life from the need for a tool to the culmination of the technical process. In this way, we will review the different methods of carving according to the corresponding period once we are able to delve into the Paleolithic mind to know what we need, where we can get it, how we can differentiate the quality of the stones, and other questions that will be answered by the own assistants with the trial-error method, at all times under the supervision of the teacher.
The Workshop will take place after archeological intervention works (september/october)
For further information about the date and content of the day, please contact us through our email: [email protected]
COLLABORATE IN EXCAVATION WORK:
This reward allows the patron to integrate into the project group and participate in the planned excavation work. It includes work meals (breakfast and lunch), diploma of attendance, the T-shirt of the project and the mention as collaborator in the archaeological and informative report of the campaign 2017. In case of the two working days this also includes dinner and accommodation (1 night).
The Workshop will take place after archeological intervention works (september/october)
For further information about the date and content of the day, please contact us through our email:[email protected]
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