Gigantes nas alturas: uma reflexão sobre os assentamentos fortificados indefinidos 'altomedievais' no noroeste peninsular

Abstract

In recent years, research on the Early Middle Ages in the northwest Iberian Peninsula has made significant progress, particularly with regard to early medieval castles. Nevertheless, many fortified sites remain undetermined owing to the scarcity of archaeological or documentary evidence that would allow for a clear chronological and functional framework. These sites are often assigned generically to the Early Middle Ages (fifth–eleventh centuries), based frequently on assumptions about what they are not, rather than being grounded in concrete evidence. The absence of direct evidence complicates the formulation of a unified hypothesis for this type of fortified settlement, making it essential to deepen archaeological research and explore new approaches that enable a more precise individualized framework. This article examines four paradigmatic cases as an initial sample, with the aim of reflecting on this problem and outlining lines of enquiry that may lead, in the future, to a more comprehensive study.