L’assentament ibèric del Castellot de la Roca Roja (Benifallet, Baix Ebre): les intervencions de 2016, 2017 i 2020

Abstract

Aquest petit assentament fortificat de 1.000 m2, ha estat objecte d’intervencions programades de forma discontínua des de 1998. Les campanyes de 2016, 2017 i 2020 han permès exhaurir l’estratigrafia d’un total de 10 sectors (corresponents a recintes tancats i trams de carrer). La principal novetat ha estat el descobriment d’una fase de la segona meitat del segle vi aC, anterior al sistema defensiu i a la trama urbana actualment visibles. Es defineix per un gran retall artificial a la roca calcària, que assoleix en alguns punts 2,8 m de profunditat, amb una longitud de gairebé 25 m i amplada variable. En paral·lel, s’ha identificat un mur de pedres de grans dimensions, amb tota probabilitat restes de la muralla que acompanyava aquest fossat de l’ibèric antic. A finals del segle v aC, es va reblir aquest fossat i es van construir la torre quadrangular i una nova muralla desplaçada 10 m al nord de l’anterior, que caracteritzaran l’assentament de l’ibèric antic.

This small, fortified settlement of 1,000 m2 has been discontinuously excavated since 1998. The campaigns of 2016, 2017 and 2020 have completely exhausted the stratigraphy in ten sectors (corresponding to enclosed spaces and street) to be completed. The main novelty has been the discovery of a phase dating from the second half of the 6th century BC, prior to the defence system and the urban layout currently visible. It is defined by a large artificial cut in the limestone rock, which at some points is 2.8 m deep, almost 25 m long and of varying width. At the same time, a large stone wall has been identified, most probably the remains of the rampart reinforced by this moat from the Early Iberian period. At the end of the 5th century BC, this wall was demolished; a quadrangular tower and a new wall were built, 10 m to the north of the previous one, which characterised the settlement of the Middle Iberian period (4th – 3rd centuries BC).