The dry stone
Walking along the path of the pylons we can appreciate a type of millenary constructive manifestation declared a World Heritage Site. The dry stone technique has been used throughout history to build functional elements around the ancient communication routes.
The origin of dry stone constructions
After the process of Christian conquest and repopulation of the territory from the 13th century onwards, the inhabitants of these lands oriented their economy towards sectors that could adapt to the characteristics of a mountainous, cold land with poor soils. The cold and arid lands of the sierras were not very good for cultivation and, in addition, they were full of stones, which meant that those who settled here had to sharpen their wits in order to obtain cultivable plots of land. Thus, the stones that were removed from the fields were used to build terraces or terraces in areas with steep slopes, allowing cultivation and preventing erosion, to build huts as a shelter for shepherds and livestock, or walls to fence plots or delimit roads.
Roads between mountains
The transhumant livestock and trade allowed the creation of routes through the mountain ranges of Gúdar-Maestrazgo through which a large number of people passed by paths, roads, trails and azagadores. Each type of route had certain characteristics that made it more suitable for the purpose for which it was traveled. Thus, the paths were narrow roads generally used for pedestrians and small livestock. Also known as bridle paths, they were used by people and animals in a row. Somewhat wider than the previous ones were the caudal or royal roads, built at the expense of the State, which connected towns of certain importance. These roads allowed the transit of carts and wagons and, therefore, needed to be wide enough and have a suitable road surface so that animals could drag their loads properly. The word “road” was derived from this type of road. In the livestock sector, the “cañada” or “vereda”, known in Aragon as “cabañera”, was the route par excellence for the transit of animals. The ground had to be soft, with natural herbaceous vegetation that served as pasture and was fertilized by the livestock. Its route avoided passing through towns and tried to ford rivers. The need to cross certain large rivers was solved by the construction of imposing bridges such as the one at Pobla del Bellestar, on the border between Iglesuela del Cid and Vilafranca.
A construction technique that is part of the world heritage
The “dry stone art” was declared a World Heritage Site in 2018. This ancestral building technique is still present today in Spain, Greece, Cyprus, France, Croatia, Slovenia, Italy and Switzerland, countries that submitted a joint candidacy to have a work whose origins date back to the Neolithic period preserved and enhanced. “The art of building walls in dry stone comprises the knowledge and practices on its realization with a mere stacking of stones without using other building materials, except for earth also dry in some occasions. These walls are widespread inside and outside inhabited areas in most rural regions, mainly in steep terrain, although they can also be found in some urban regions. Their structural stability is achieved by extremely careful selection and placement of the stones. These walls have been used to create different types of human habitats, as well as structures for agriculture and livestock farming, which have shaped many and varied landscapes.
These constructions are a testimony to the methods and practices used by populations from prehistoric to modern times to organize their living and working spaces by making the most of local natural and human resources. Dry stone walls play an essential role in the prevention of landslides, floods and avalanches, in the fight against soil erosion and desertification, in the enhancement of biodiversity and in the creation of microclimatic conditions conducive to agriculture. The depositaries and practitioners of this element of cultural heritage are the rural communities in which it is deeply rooted, as well as professionals in the construction sector. Dry stone structures are always built in perfect harmony with the environment and the techniques used are an example of a balanced relationship between man and nature. The transmission of this art of construction is mainly carried out through practice adapted to the specific conditions of each place”. UNESCO. Inscribed in 2018 on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Bibliography
ALTABA ESCORIHUELA, J. “Cantavieja and its Baylia”, Teruel, 1978. CASAS NAGORE, Carlos. “Camineros, de la senda a la autovía. Roads of Teruel”. Instituto de Estudios Turolenses, 2021. MIRALLES GARCÍA, F., MONFORT TENA, J., MARÍN ROLLO, M. “Los hombres y las piedras. La pedra en sec a Vilafranca, a humanized landscape”. Vilafranca City Council, 2008.
Links of interest
Publications on dry stone: https://pedraseca.gva.es/va/publicacions UNESCO, World Heritage. Knowledge and techniques of the art of dry stone walling: https://ich.unesco.org/es/RL/conocimientos-y-tecnicas-del-arte-de-construir-muros-enpiedra-seca-01393