La necrópolis musulmana de Valdeherrera (Calatayud, Zaragoza): nuevos datos cronológicos sobre la fundación de Calatayud

Abstract

One of the news more importantly of recent research project in Valdeherrera site has been the discovery of a Muslim necropolis; this maqbara dated in emiral period is located between the remains of the Celtiberian-Roman Republican city existing in the place. Given the total absence of Islamic materials here, this discover has marked a key in the historical investigation of the Islamic occupation of Qal’at Ayyub’s territory and origin, confirming the Muslim written sources. In this work we not aim to provide an overview or a comprehensive study of the discovered maqbara; the archaeological work continues and has not yet been possible to determine its extent. The ultimate goal is to publicize this discovery and provide a chronological sequence to fill the information gap existing at the moment of the start of the Arab presence in the middle valley of Jalon, where Qal’at Ayyud city played an important role throughout the Middle Age.