Papers by JOSUE SUSPERREGI
Munibe Antropologia-Arkeologia, Dec 1, 2022
EGA Revista de Expresión Gráfica Arquitectónica, 2020
Recientes trabajos de investigación sustentados en el análisis arquitectónico y en la dendrocrono... more Recientes trabajos de investigación sustentados en el análisis arquitectónico y en la dendrocronología han permitido identificar un modelo de caserío guipuzcoano que se remonta a mediados del s.XV. El análisis de varios casos de estudio ha revelado la existencia de constantes constructivas y geométricas que pueden responder a un patrón regulado en base a un sistema de proporciones. Este artículo trata de esclarecer las reglas geométricas que subyacen al modelo y, asumiendo el papel protagonista de la proporción áurea en la literatura referente a las reglas compositivas que rigen las grandes obras de arquitectura del pasado, se ha elaborado una hipótesis en base a la teoría del alemán E. Mössel. Los resultados son convincentes y se puede concluir que los caseríos estudiados comparten un sistema geométrico común basado en la proporción áurea, abriéndose una interesante línea de investigación en un ámbito hasta ahora restringido casi exclusivamente a la arquitectura religiosa.
Journal of Archaeological Science, 2015
International Journal of Nautical Archaeology, 2013
Access Archaeology: Arqueología de la Edad Moderna en el País Vasco y su entorno, 2020
El caserío vasco, un tipo de edi cio característico de la vertiente atlántica del territorio,... more El caserío vasco, un tipo de edi cio característico de la vertiente atlántica del territorio, es una solución arquitectónica que combina en su interior diferentes actividades. Además de proporcionar alojamiento y albergar la maquinaria e infraestructuras para la elaboración de sidra, estas construcciones rurales fueron diseñadas para alojar -entre otros espacios funcionales- el establo, el granero y los almacenes. A menudo eran propiedad de una familia y administrados directamente por ella, sin vínculos con organizaciones eclesiásticas.
Los estudios en torno al caserío vasco han establecido que este modelo surgió a nales del siglo XV, sin ningún precedente local previo. Esta teoría sitúa su construcción inicial en un período tranquilo y relativamente seguro, inmediatamente posterior a las guerras entre los linajes banderizos que habían comenzado en 1418 provocando asaltos, saqueos e incendios. Recientes trabajos de restauración en los caseríos Zelaa (Ezkio) y Maiz Goena (Lazkao), han servido para obtener nuevas informaciones con las que ha sido posible reinterpretar las teorías al uso. Por un lado, se han obtenido cronologías absolutas que remontan a mediados del siglo XV la construcción de ambos edi cios. Por otro, se ha constatado que responden a un mismo patrón arquitectónico caracterizado por su diseño modular en torno a pórticos generatriz y por estar totalmente ejecutado en madera con la posible excepción de la cubierta que bien pudo contar con teja cerámica. A lo largo de las próximas páginas irán desgranándose los argumentos que permiten concluir que los caseríos comenzaron a construirse varias décadas antes de lo hasta ahora establecido, durante un periodo en el que las guerras aún azotaban el territorio.
La teoría de E. Mössel en la base del trazado que regula un modelo de caserío guipuzcoano del siglo XV. Parte1, 2020
La teoría de E. Mössel en la base del trazado que regula un Modelo de caserío guipuzcoano del sig... more La teoría de E. Mössel en la base del trazado que regula un Modelo de caserío guipuzcoano del siglo XV. Parte I.
The Theory of E. Moessel at the root of the plan governing a gipuzkoan farm house model from the 15th century. Part 1.
Recientes trabajos de investigación sustentados en el análisis arquitectónico y en la dendrocronología han permitido identificar un modelo de caserío guipuzcoano que se remonta a mediados del siglo xv. El análisis de varios casos de estudio ha revelado la existencia de constantes constructivas y geométricas que pueden responder a un patrón regulado en base a un sistema de proporciones. Este artículo trata de esclarecer las reglas geométricas que subyacen al modelo y, asumiendo el papel protagonista de la proporción áurea en la literatura referente a las reglas compositivas que rigen las grandes obras de arquitectura del pasado, se ha elaborado una hipótesis en base a la teoría del alemán E. Mössel. Los resultados son convincentes y se puede concluir que los caseríos estudiados comparten un sistema geométrico común basado en la proporción áurea, abriéndose una interesante línea de investigación en un ámbito hasta ahora restringido casi exclusivamente a la arquitectura religiosa.
palabras clave:
proporción áurea, geometría, trazado regulador, Mössel, caserío, Gipuzkoa, Edad Media
Recent research results based on architectural analyses and dendrochronology have enabled the identification of a Gipuzkoan farm house model dating back to the middle of the 15th century. The analysis of several case studies has revealed the existence of geometric and construction habits that seem to comply with a pattern governed by a system of proportion. The aim of this article is to ascertain the geometric rules underlying this farm house model, and, taking into account the importance of the golden ratio in literature regarding the composition rules governing many of the great architectural works of the past, to put forward a hypothesis based on the theory of the German E. Moessel. The results are convincing and we can conclude that the studied farm houses share a common geometrical system based on the golden ratio, which opens up an interesting line of investigation in a field that, in the past, has been limited almost exclusively to religious architecture.
Arqueología de la Edad Moderna en el País Vasco y su entorno, Grau and Quirós (ed.), 2020
The Basque caserío, a type of building that is characteristic of the Atlantic watershed of this t... more The Basque caserío, a type of building that is characteristic of the Atlantic watershed of this territory, is an architectonic solution that combines different activities in its interior. Apart from providing accommodation and storing the tools and facilities for the elaboration of cider, these rural constructions were designed for containing as well -among other functional spaces- the barn, the granary and the storages. Often, they were the property of a family and managed by themselves, without any link with ecclesiastical organizations.
The studies regarding Basque caseríos have established that this model appeared at the end of the 15th century, without any local precedent. This theory places their initial construction in a calm period, relatively safe, just after the wars between factional lineages that started in 1418 and caused assaults, sackings and fires. Recent restauration works carried out at the caseríos of Zelaa (Ezkio) and Maiz Goena (Lazkao) have provided new information that allows to reinterpret the traditional theories. On the one hand, we have obtained absolute chronologies that suggest that both caseríos were built in the mid 15th century. On the other hand, we have documented that both buildings follow an architectonic pattern characterised by its modular design along generatrix frames and by being entirely built of wood, with the possible exception of the roof, that might have been made with ceramic tiles. In the following pages, we explain the reasons why we suggest that the caseríos began to be built some decades earlier than previously thought, during a period in which wars were still ongoing.
Abstract
Dendroarchaeology in the Basque country is directed at improving our understanding of ... more Abstract
Dendroarchaeology in the Basque country is directed at improving our understanding of the cultural heritage preserved in, or originating from, northwestern Spain. To this end the emphasis is on the compilation of absolutely-dated tree-ring chronologies that can serve as a reference for accurately dating ancient structures such as buildings and shipwrecks. The current study focuses on 41 samples from radially-split oak planks that were mostly stored for reuse in a carpentry workshop in this region. The general consensus among historians is that these planks, and hence the buildings they are part of, date from the 15th and 16th Centuries. Our results show that the trees from which the planks were derived were cut down in the 15 to 19 Centuries, thus refuting this narrow time frame. The similarity of the planks’ growth patterns to the annual variations of Basque chronology ARAB4 (AD 1277–1819), which we reworked slightly and renamed ARAB8, confirms that this chronology is well-suited for establishing the age of timbers preserved in the cultural heritage in this region. The inclusion of the new series into ARAB8 significantly improves the replication of this master chronology from ca. AD 1300 onwards and extends it forward to AD 1849.
Résumé
La dendrochronologie dans le pays Basque vise à améliorer notre compréhension du patrimoine culturel régional ou originaire du nord-ouest de l'Espagne. L'objectif est de rassembler des séries dendrochronologiques datées de manière absolue qui pourront servir de référentiels pour la datation de structures anciennes telles que les bâtiments et les épaves de bateaux. L'étude présentée ici porte sur 41 échantillons de chêne dérivés de planches fendues dans le sens radial, dont la plupart ont été stockés pour être réutilisées dans un atelier de charpenterie de cette région. Il est admis, d'après les historiens, que ces planches, et donc les bâtiments dont ils faisaient partie, datent des XVe et XVIe siècles. Or, nos résultats montrent que les arbres dont les planches ont été tirées ont été abattus du XVe au XIXe siècle, ce qui élargit considérablement la fourchette chronologique. La similitude entre les variations annuelles des cernes sur les planches et celles de la chronologie basque ARAB4 (AD 1277 à 1819), revue par nos soins et renommée ARAB8, confirme que cette chronologie est bien adaptée pour dater les bois du patrimoine culturel de cette région. L'inclusion des nouvelles séries au sein de la moyenne ARAB8 améliore de manière significative la puissance de la moyenne de cette référence de AD 1300 jusqu’à AD 1849.
Resumen
La investigación dendrocronológica en el País Vasco está orientada a la profundización en el conocimiento del patrimonio cultural originario de la región y del noroeste de España. Una de las prioridades es la recopilación de series dendrocronológicas datadas de forma absoluta, que puedan servir de referencias para la datación de estructuras antiguas como edificios o restos de barcos. El presente estudio consiste en el análisis de 41 muestras procedentes de tablas radiales, extraídas del tronco por inserción de cuñas y rajado a la veta, la mayor parte de las mismas almacenadas por un carpintero de la región para su re-utilización. La hipótesis desarrollada por los historiadores sitúa la utilización de esta técnica (y por tanto los edificios que contienen este tipo de tablas) en los siglos XV y XVI. Sin embargo, los resultados del estudio muestran que los árboles de los que provienen estas tablas fueron talados en fechas comprendidas desde el siglo XV hasta el siglo XIX, alargando considerablemente el uso de esta técnica. La similitud entre los patrones de crecimiento de las tablas y las variaciones anuales de la cronología ARAB4 (1277–1819), que ha sido revisada y re-nombrada como ARAB8, confirma la idoneidad de esta cronología para la datación de elementos en madera del patrimonio cultural de la región. La inclusión de nuevas series en la cronología ARAB8 ha supuesto una mejora significativa en su replicación desde el año 1300 en adelante y su extensión hasta el año 1849.
International Journal of Nautical Archaeology, 2013
ABSTRACT At the time of the discovery of the Newport medieval ship, it proved impossible to date ... more ABSTRACT At the time of the discovery of the Newport medieval ship, it proved impossible to date the timbers used in its original construction through dendrochronology. Associated British timbers and artefacts provided dating to the mid 15th century, with the latter pointing to strong Iberian connections. The development of regional oak ring-width chronologies in the Basque Country, and their extension back in time to overlap with the ring-width mean developed for the Newport Ship, has allowed absolute dating and provenance of timbers used in its original construction. Further research is required to clarify the geographical source of the timbers and to develop a high-resolution network of tree-ring data for the region.
Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 2017
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2016.12.035
The Basque farmhouse, a characteristic building t... more http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2016.12.035
The Basque farmhouse, a characteristic building type for north-western Spain, is an architectural solution that allows the combined management of different rural activities. In addition to providing living quarters and a space for a cider press these farmhouses were designed to function as, among others, stable, barn and warehouse. They were often owned and managed by one family, with no links to ecclesiastic organizations. Architectural studies have established that these buildings first were constructed at the end of the 15th century without previous local precedent. This places their initial construction in a calm and relatively secure period, when the wars between the aristocratic lineages which had started in 1418, and which had resulted in assaults, looting and fires, had come to an end. The timing of their first occurrence has led to the interpretation that they represent a building
tradition imported from the North. Dendrochronological research initially confirmed their late fifteenth-century origin. However recent restoration work in two previously undocumented farmhouses at Ezkio and Lazkao (Gipuzkoa territory) has enabled a reassessment of this interpretation. The architectural analysis of these buildings shows that their construction plans, which are quite similar, deviates from the general plan according to which the majority of Basque farmhouses were built. The newly identified model, wholly executed in wood
with the exception of the roof covering, is based on the repetition of frames and bays. Together these generate the volume of the building, which is larger than the volume of other farmhouses. We collected a total of 81 oak (Quercus sp.) samples from both farmhouses and using Basque chronology ARAB9 as a reference established that these represent trees that were cut down in the spring of 1445 and in 1453 respectively. Since construction most likely took place within a few years after the trees were felled, this indicates that Basque farmhouses began to be constructed decades earlier than expected. At that time wars still raged in the Basque Country. If it is true that the political situation determined the degree of diffusion of non-indigenous architectural concepts in this region, the new findings can be interpreted as supporting the hypothesis that Basque farmhouses reflect a
regionally-developed building tradition.
We review the current state of dendroarchaeology in the Iberian Peninsula and discuss its potenti... more We review the current state of dendroarchaeology in the Iberian Peninsula and discuss its potential, outlining the particular relevance and complexity of this territory and its material heritage for dendroarchaeological studies. Whereas dendrochronology is used throughout the rest of Europe to answer questions about cultural heritage, the application of dendroarchaeology in the Iberian Peninsula has been remarkably underrepresented in comparison to dendroecology and dendroclimatology. Existing treering chronologies in this territory have a widespread geographical coverage, but are often too short to allow dendroarchaeological studies, resulting in inadequate assessments of material heritage made of wood in and originating from the Iberian Peninsula. However, different studies have demonstrated that dendroarchaeology has a great potential in the area. This review illustrates the rich variety of Iberian material heritage from different periods and cultures covering over 8000 years that could profit from dendrochronological research. Future research possibilities in relation to the available Iberian heritage in Spain, Portugal and worldwide are proposed.
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Papers by JOSUE SUSPERREGI
Los estudios en torno al caserío vasco han establecido que este modelo surgió a nales del siglo XV, sin ningún precedente local previo. Esta teoría sitúa su construcción inicial en un período tranquilo y relativamente seguro, inmediatamente posterior a las guerras entre los linajes banderizos que habían comenzado en 1418 provocando asaltos, saqueos e incendios. Recientes trabajos de restauración en los caseríos Zelaa (Ezkio) y Maiz Goena (Lazkao), han servido para obtener nuevas informaciones con las que ha sido posible reinterpretar las teorías al uso. Por un lado, se han obtenido cronologías absolutas que remontan a mediados del siglo XV la construcción de ambos edi cios. Por otro, se ha constatado que responden a un mismo patrón arquitectónico caracterizado por su diseño modular en torno a pórticos generatriz y por estar totalmente ejecutado en madera con la posible excepción de la cubierta que bien pudo contar con teja cerámica. A lo largo de las próximas páginas irán desgranándose los argumentos que permiten concluir que los caseríos comenzaron a construirse varias décadas antes de lo hasta ahora establecido, durante un periodo en el que las guerras aún azotaban el territorio.
The Theory of E. Moessel at the root of the plan governing a gipuzkoan farm house model from the 15th century. Part 1.
Recientes trabajos de investigación sustentados en el análisis arquitectónico y en la dendrocronología han permitido identificar un modelo de caserío guipuzcoano que se remonta a mediados del siglo xv. El análisis de varios casos de estudio ha revelado la existencia de constantes constructivas y geométricas que pueden responder a un patrón regulado en base a un sistema de proporciones. Este artículo trata de esclarecer las reglas geométricas que subyacen al modelo y, asumiendo el papel protagonista de la proporción áurea en la literatura referente a las reglas compositivas que rigen las grandes obras de arquitectura del pasado, se ha elaborado una hipótesis en base a la teoría del alemán E. Mössel. Los resultados son convincentes y se puede concluir que los caseríos estudiados comparten un sistema geométrico común basado en la proporción áurea, abriéndose una interesante línea de investigación en un ámbito hasta ahora restringido casi exclusivamente a la arquitectura religiosa.
palabras clave:
proporción áurea, geometría, trazado regulador, Mössel, caserío, Gipuzkoa, Edad Media
Recent research results based on architectural analyses and dendrochronology have enabled the identification of a Gipuzkoan farm house model dating back to the middle of the 15th century. The analysis of several case studies has revealed the existence of geometric and construction habits that seem to comply with a pattern governed by a system of proportion. The aim of this article is to ascertain the geometric rules underlying this farm house model, and, taking into account the importance of the golden ratio in literature regarding the composition rules governing many of the great architectural works of the past, to put forward a hypothesis based on the theory of the German E. Moessel. The results are convincing and we can conclude that the studied farm houses share a common geometrical system based on the golden ratio, which opens up an interesting line of investigation in a field that, in the past, has been limited almost exclusively to religious architecture.
The studies regarding Basque caseríos have established that this model appeared at the end of the 15th century, without any local precedent. This theory places their initial construction in a calm period, relatively safe, just after the wars between factional lineages that started in 1418 and caused assaults, sackings and fires. Recent restauration works carried out at the caseríos of Zelaa (Ezkio) and Maiz Goena (Lazkao) have provided new information that allows to reinterpret the traditional theories. On the one hand, we have obtained absolute chronologies that suggest that both caseríos were built in the mid 15th century. On the other hand, we have documented that both buildings follow an architectonic pattern characterised by its modular design along generatrix frames and by being entirely built of wood, with the possible exception of the roof, that might have been made with ceramic tiles. In the following pages, we explain the reasons why we suggest that the caseríos began to be built some decades earlier than previously thought, during a period in which wars were still ongoing.
Dendroarchaeology in the Basque country is directed at improving our understanding of the cultural heritage preserved in, or originating from, northwestern Spain. To this end the emphasis is on the compilation of absolutely-dated tree-ring chronologies that can serve as a reference for accurately dating ancient structures such as buildings and shipwrecks. The current study focuses on 41 samples from radially-split oak planks that were mostly stored for reuse in a carpentry workshop in this region. The general consensus among historians is that these planks, and hence the buildings they are part of, date from the 15th and 16th Centuries. Our results show that the trees from which the planks were derived were cut down in the 15 to 19 Centuries, thus refuting this narrow time frame. The similarity of the planks’ growth patterns to the annual variations of Basque chronology ARAB4 (AD 1277–1819), which we reworked slightly and renamed ARAB8, confirms that this chronology is well-suited for establishing the age of timbers preserved in the cultural heritage in this region. The inclusion of the new series into ARAB8 significantly improves the replication of this master chronology from ca. AD 1300 onwards and extends it forward to AD 1849.
Résumé
La dendrochronologie dans le pays Basque vise à améliorer notre compréhension du patrimoine culturel régional ou originaire du nord-ouest de l'Espagne. L'objectif est de rassembler des séries dendrochronologiques datées de manière absolue qui pourront servir de référentiels pour la datation de structures anciennes telles que les bâtiments et les épaves de bateaux. L'étude présentée ici porte sur 41 échantillons de chêne dérivés de planches fendues dans le sens radial, dont la plupart ont été stockés pour être réutilisées dans un atelier de charpenterie de cette région. Il est admis, d'après les historiens, que ces planches, et donc les bâtiments dont ils faisaient partie, datent des XVe et XVIe siècles. Or, nos résultats montrent que les arbres dont les planches ont été tirées ont été abattus du XVe au XIXe siècle, ce qui élargit considérablement la fourchette chronologique. La similitude entre les variations annuelles des cernes sur les planches et celles de la chronologie basque ARAB4 (AD 1277 à 1819), revue par nos soins et renommée ARAB8, confirme que cette chronologie est bien adaptée pour dater les bois du patrimoine culturel de cette région. L'inclusion des nouvelles séries au sein de la moyenne ARAB8 améliore de manière significative la puissance de la moyenne de cette référence de AD 1300 jusqu’à AD 1849.
Resumen
La investigación dendrocronológica en el País Vasco está orientada a la profundización en el conocimiento del patrimonio cultural originario de la región y del noroeste de España. Una de las prioridades es la recopilación de series dendrocronológicas datadas de forma absoluta, que puedan servir de referencias para la datación de estructuras antiguas como edificios o restos de barcos. El presente estudio consiste en el análisis de 41 muestras procedentes de tablas radiales, extraídas del tronco por inserción de cuñas y rajado a la veta, la mayor parte de las mismas almacenadas por un carpintero de la región para su re-utilización. La hipótesis desarrollada por los historiadores sitúa la utilización de esta técnica (y por tanto los edificios que contienen este tipo de tablas) en los siglos XV y XVI. Sin embargo, los resultados del estudio muestran que los árboles de los que provienen estas tablas fueron talados en fechas comprendidas desde el siglo XV hasta el siglo XIX, alargando considerablemente el uso de esta técnica. La similitud entre los patrones de crecimiento de las tablas y las variaciones anuales de la cronología ARAB4 (1277–1819), que ha sido revisada y re-nombrada como ARAB8, confirma la idoneidad de esta cronología para la datación de elementos en madera del patrimonio cultural de la región. La inclusión de nuevas series en la cronología ARAB8 ha supuesto una mejora significativa en su replicación desde el año 1300 en adelante y su extensión hasta el año 1849.
The Basque farmhouse, a characteristic building type for north-western Spain, is an architectural solution that allows the combined management of different rural activities. In addition to providing living quarters and a space for a cider press these farmhouses were designed to function as, among others, stable, barn and warehouse. They were often owned and managed by one family, with no links to ecclesiastic organizations. Architectural studies have established that these buildings first were constructed at the end of the 15th century without previous local precedent. This places their initial construction in a calm and relatively secure period, when the wars between the aristocratic lineages which had started in 1418, and which had resulted in assaults, looting and fires, had come to an end. The timing of their first occurrence has led to the interpretation that they represent a building
tradition imported from the North. Dendrochronological research initially confirmed their late fifteenth-century origin. However recent restoration work in two previously undocumented farmhouses at Ezkio and Lazkao (Gipuzkoa territory) has enabled a reassessment of this interpretation. The architectural analysis of these buildings shows that their construction plans, which are quite similar, deviates from the general plan according to which the majority of Basque farmhouses were built. The newly identified model, wholly executed in wood
with the exception of the roof covering, is based on the repetition of frames and bays. Together these generate the volume of the building, which is larger than the volume of other farmhouses. We collected a total of 81 oak (Quercus sp.) samples from both farmhouses and using Basque chronology ARAB9 as a reference established that these represent trees that were cut down in the spring of 1445 and in 1453 respectively. Since construction most likely took place within a few years after the trees were felled, this indicates that Basque farmhouses began to be constructed decades earlier than expected. At that time wars still raged in the Basque Country. If it is true that the political situation determined the degree of diffusion of non-indigenous architectural concepts in this region, the new findings can be interpreted as supporting the hypothesis that Basque farmhouses reflect a
regionally-developed building tradition.
Los estudios en torno al caserío vasco han establecido que este modelo surgió a nales del siglo XV, sin ningún precedente local previo. Esta teoría sitúa su construcción inicial en un período tranquilo y relativamente seguro, inmediatamente posterior a las guerras entre los linajes banderizos que habían comenzado en 1418 provocando asaltos, saqueos e incendios. Recientes trabajos de restauración en los caseríos Zelaa (Ezkio) y Maiz Goena (Lazkao), han servido para obtener nuevas informaciones con las que ha sido posible reinterpretar las teorías al uso. Por un lado, se han obtenido cronologías absolutas que remontan a mediados del siglo XV la construcción de ambos edi cios. Por otro, se ha constatado que responden a un mismo patrón arquitectónico caracterizado por su diseño modular en torno a pórticos generatriz y por estar totalmente ejecutado en madera con la posible excepción de la cubierta que bien pudo contar con teja cerámica. A lo largo de las próximas páginas irán desgranándose los argumentos que permiten concluir que los caseríos comenzaron a construirse varias décadas antes de lo hasta ahora establecido, durante un periodo en el que las guerras aún azotaban el territorio.
The Theory of E. Moessel at the root of the plan governing a gipuzkoan farm house model from the 15th century. Part 1.
Recientes trabajos de investigación sustentados en el análisis arquitectónico y en la dendrocronología han permitido identificar un modelo de caserío guipuzcoano que se remonta a mediados del siglo xv. El análisis de varios casos de estudio ha revelado la existencia de constantes constructivas y geométricas que pueden responder a un patrón regulado en base a un sistema de proporciones. Este artículo trata de esclarecer las reglas geométricas que subyacen al modelo y, asumiendo el papel protagonista de la proporción áurea en la literatura referente a las reglas compositivas que rigen las grandes obras de arquitectura del pasado, se ha elaborado una hipótesis en base a la teoría del alemán E. Mössel. Los resultados son convincentes y se puede concluir que los caseríos estudiados comparten un sistema geométrico común basado en la proporción áurea, abriéndose una interesante línea de investigación en un ámbito hasta ahora restringido casi exclusivamente a la arquitectura religiosa.
palabras clave:
proporción áurea, geometría, trazado regulador, Mössel, caserío, Gipuzkoa, Edad Media
Recent research results based on architectural analyses and dendrochronology have enabled the identification of a Gipuzkoan farm house model dating back to the middle of the 15th century. The analysis of several case studies has revealed the existence of geometric and construction habits that seem to comply with a pattern governed by a system of proportion. The aim of this article is to ascertain the geometric rules underlying this farm house model, and, taking into account the importance of the golden ratio in literature regarding the composition rules governing many of the great architectural works of the past, to put forward a hypothesis based on the theory of the German E. Moessel. The results are convincing and we can conclude that the studied farm houses share a common geometrical system based on the golden ratio, which opens up an interesting line of investigation in a field that, in the past, has been limited almost exclusively to religious architecture.
The studies regarding Basque caseríos have established that this model appeared at the end of the 15th century, without any local precedent. This theory places their initial construction in a calm period, relatively safe, just after the wars between factional lineages that started in 1418 and caused assaults, sackings and fires. Recent restauration works carried out at the caseríos of Zelaa (Ezkio) and Maiz Goena (Lazkao) have provided new information that allows to reinterpret the traditional theories. On the one hand, we have obtained absolute chronologies that suggest that both caseríos were built in the mid 15th century. On the other hand, we have documented that both buildings follow an architectonic pattern characterised by its modular design along generatrix frames and by being entirely built of wood, with the possible exception of the roof, that might have been made with ceramic tiles. In the following pages, we explain the reasons why we suggest that the caseríos began to be built some decades earlier than previously thought, during a period in which wars were still ongoing.
Dendroarchaeology in the Basque country is directed at improving our understanding of the cultural heritage preserved in, or originating from, northwestern Spain. To this end the emphasis is on the compilation of absolutely-dated tree-ring chronologies that can serve as a reference for accurately dating ancient structures such as buildings and shipwrecks. The current study focuses on 41 samples from radially-split oak planks that were mostly stored for reuse in a carpentry workshop in this region. The general consensus among historians is that these planks, and hence the buildings they are part of, date from the 15th and 16th Centuries. Our results show that the trees from which the planks were derived were cut down in the 15 to 19 Centuries, thus refuting this narrow time frame. The similarity of the planks’ growth patterns to the annual variations of Basque chronology ARAB4 (AD 1277–1819), which we reworked slightly and renamed ARAB8, confirms that this chronology is well-suited for establishing the age of timbers preserved in the cultural heritage in this region. The inclusion of the new series into ARAB8 significantly improves the replication of this master chronology from ca. AD 1300 onwards and extends it forward to AD 1849.
Résumé
La dendrochronologie dans le pays Basque vise à améliorer notre compréhension du patrimoine culturel régional ou originaire du nord-ouest de l'Espagne. L'objectif est de rassembler des séries dendrochronologiques datées de manière absolue qui pourront servir de référentiels pour la datation de structures anciennes telles que les bâtiments et les épaves de bateaux. L'étude présentée ici porte sur 41 échantillons de chêne dérivés de planches fendues dans le sens radial, dont la plupart ont été stockés pour être réutilisées dans un atelier de charpenterie de cette région. Il est admis, d'après les historiens, que ces planches, et donc les bâtiments dont ils faisaient partie, datent des XVe et XVIe siècles. Or, nos résultats montrent que les arbres dont les planches ont été tirées ont été abattus du XVe au XIXe siècle, ce qui élargit considérablement la fourchette chronologique. La similitude entre les variations annuelles des cernes sur les planches et celles de la chronologie basque ARAB4 (AD 1277 à 1819), revue par nos soins et renommée ARAB8, confirme que cette chronologie est bien adaptée pour dater les bois du patrimoine culturel de cette région. L'inclusion des nouvelles séries au sein de la moyenne ARAB8 améliore de manière significative la puissance de la moyenne de cette référence de AD 1300 jusqu’à AD 1849.
Resumen
La investigación dendrocronológica en el País Vasco está orientada a la profundización en el conocimiento del patrimonio cultural originario de la región y del noroeste de España. Una de las prioridades es la recopilación de series dendrocronológicas datadas de forma absoluta, que puedan servir de referencias para la datación de estructuras antiguas como edificios o restos de barcos. El presente estudio consiste en el análisis de 41 muestras procedentes de tablas radiales, extraídas del tronco por inserción de cuñas y rajado a la veta, la mayor parte de las mismas almacenadas por un carpintero de la región para su re-utilización. La hipótesis desarrollada por los historiadores sitúa la utilización de esta técnica (y por tanto los edificios que contienen este tipo de tablas) en los siglos XV y XVI. Sin embargo, los resultados del estudio muestran que los árboles de los que provienen estas tablas fueron talados en fechas comprendidas desde el siglo XV hasta el siglo XIX, alargando considerablemente el uso de esta técnica. La similitud entre los patrones de crecimiento de las tablas y las variaciones anuales de la cronología ARAB4 (1277–1819), que ha sido revisada y re-nombrada como ARAB8, confirma la idoneidad de esta cronología para la datación de elementos en madera del patrimonio cultural de la región. La inclusión de nuevas series en la cronología ARAB8 ha supuesto una mejora significativa en su replicación desde el año 1300 en adelante y su extensión hasta el año 1849.
The Basque farmhouse, a characteristic building type for north-western Spain, is an architectural solution that allows the combined management of different rural activities. In addition to providing living quarters and a space for a cider press these farmhouses were designed to function as, among others, stable, barn and warehouse. They were often owned and managed by one family, with no links to ecclesiastic organizations. Architectural studies have established that these buildings first were constructed at the end of the 15th century without previous local precedent. This places their initial construction in a calm and relatively secure period, when the wars between the aristocratic lineages which had started in 1418, and which had resulted in assaults, looting and fires, had come to an end. The timing of their first occurrence has led to the interpretation that they represent a building
tradition imported from the North. Dendrochronological research initially confirmed their late fifteenth-century origin. However recent restoration work in two previously undocumented farmhouses at Ezkio and Lazkao (Gipuzkoa territory) has enabled a reassessment of this interpretation. The architectural analysis of these buildings shows that their construction plans, which are quite similar, deviates from the general plan according to which the majority of Basque farmhouses were built. The newly identified model, wholly executed in wood
with the exception of the roof covering, is based on the repetition of frames and bays. Together these generate the volume of the building, which is larger than the volume of other farmhouses. We collected a total of 81 oak (Quercus sp.) samples from both farmhouses and using Basque chronology ARAB9 as a reference established that these represent trees that were cut down in the spring of 1445 and in 1453 respectively. Since construction most likely took place within a few years after the trees were felled, this indicates that Basque farmhouses began to be constructed decades earlier than expected. At that time wars still raged in the Basque Country. If it is true that the political situation determined the degree of diffusion of non-indigenous architectural concepts in this region, the new findings can be interpreted as supporting the hypothesis that Basque farmhouses reflect a
regionally-developed building tradition.