University of Granada, Spain

THARG (Toponymy, History and Archaeology of the Kingdom of Granada) is an interdisciplinary research group based in the University of Granada. The main interest of our group is the study of the Middle Ages in all its complexity. A growing interest has born in the last decades about landscape. It has become one of the major fields of study within the group from a wide range of perspectives from that of archaeology to history, geography or geology.

History

The research group was created in 1989 with the aim of studying the Islamic presence on the land that would later be occupied by the Nasrid kingdom (basically the present provinces of Granada, Malaga and Almeria) and of the transformations that took place after the Castilian conquest (1492).

The research projects and the organised scientific activities reflect these interests. Within these, the main topics covered are as follows:

• Within toponymy: publication of Arab documents and studies of major and minor toponymy.
• Within medieval archaeology: the settlement, the ceramics, urban development and specific elements within them, such as castles and the Nasrid palace par excellence, the Alhambra, as well as the organisation of the spaces for economic exploitation (agricultural, pastoral, etc.).
• Within medieval history: social structures and Nasrid and Castilian economics from the analysis of productive spaces (distribution of ownership of the land, social sharing of water, Christian re-settlement and formation of Castilian estates).

Fields of activity

• Study of Al-Andalus material culture.
• Social organisation of the space.
• Landscape archaeology and Cultural Landscapes.
• Archaeology of Buildings
• Field Archaeology
• Heritage and Monument care

Technological Services

• Development and advice on archaeological activities, excavations by stratigraphic means, prospecting and surface analysis of the territory
• Advice relating to heritage, conservation of monuments, analysis of structures, study of construction techniques
• Advice relating to museums, exhibitions, and enhancement of archaeological finds
• Development and advice on studies on archaeological materials, classification, dating, conservation and preparation for public exhibition
• Analysis and documental study at a regional and local scale on the evolution of the physical environment, heritage elements, and assessment of archaeological impact
• Development and advice on environmental and archaeological impact studies of private and public works

Publications

• A collection about Landscape archaeology appears periodically, mainly containing the proceeding of several conferences, but also monographs on certain topics. The first one approaches the theory of landscape archaeology as well as several case studies while the following books look more into the application of that theory. More information can be seen here

• Another publication that appears almost every year is the proceedings of a meeting held annually as well. The issues are related to Medieval archaeology in one way or another. Previous numbers dealt with landscape, archaeometry, rural and urban settlements among many other topics.

Further Activities and Projects

• The transition between Late Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages. Excavation in the ancient city of Madinat Ilbira.
• Historical landscapes analysis
• Salt exploitation in the center of Spain (Guadalajara and Madrid)
• Local representatives of central power in the Nasrid kingdom: impact on the social network and leading qualities
• The relationship between salt and livestock, especially in the Late Middle Ages.
• The end of the middle Ages and the beginning of the Modern period.

Dissemination over the internet

Arqueología Medieval

Arqueología del paisaje

Biblioarqueología

Medina Elvira

Tharg

Address

Grupo de Investigación THARG

Dpto. de Historia Medieval y Ciencias y Técnicas Historiográficas

Facultad de Filosofía y Letras. Campus universitario de Cartuja s/n

Universidad de Granada.

18071 Granada

SPAIN

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For an update on projects and activities, see here