Los despoblados y las estelas medievales de Quintanapalla (Burgos)

Abstract

Las once estelas medievales que se dan a conocer aquí proceden de dos yacimientos arqueológicos distintos, situados en el término de Quintanapalla (Burgos) e identificados con los despoblados medievales de Villarmiros y Castrillejo. Ambos presentan características comunes (material, técnicas, rusticidad y funcionalidad), aunque se significan sobre todo por sus diferencias. En Villarmiros perviven motivos precristianos de carácter solar (circunferencias, sogueados, aspas…) y falta la cruz cristiana. Esto y las referencias diplomáticas sitúan su cronología entre los siglos X y XI, o tal vez algo antes. Castrillejo, en cambio, destaca por el uso de cruces griegas inscritas en círculo, seguramente pertenecientes al siglo XIII.

The eleven medieval stelai which are discussed herein come from two different archaeological sites which are located in the municipality of Quintanapalla (Burgos) and are identified with the abandoned medieval villages of Villarmiros and Castrillejo. Both have common features (common materials, common techniques, a common rural character, and a common functionality); however, what makes them noteworthy stems, above all, from their differences. In Villarmiros, pre-Christian motifs of a solar nature (circumferences, rope-twist designs, vanes, etc.) prevail, and a Christian cross is not there. That, along with diplomatic references, bring their date to between the tenth and eleventh centuries – or perhaps earlier. Castrillejo, on the other hand, stands out because of its use of Greek crosses inscribed in a circle, surely belonging to the thirteenth century.