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Dating the early Christian baptisteries from Idanha-a-Velha—the Suebi-Visigothic Egitania: stratigraphy, radiocarbon and OSL

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Abstract

The results of the excavations carried out by one of the authors in the early Christian baptisteries of Idanha-a-Velha, in Suebi-Visigothic Egitania, are presented. Chronostratigraphic data (stratigraphic sequence, typological analysis) are compared with radiocarbon and luminescence dates in order to establish a hypothesis concerning the construction date of both north and south baptisteries. The results have shown that the baptisteries are dated earlier than what had been proposed based on their constructive typology. The dates proposed in this article will generate a change in the paradigm established for this type of constructions in the Iberian Peninsula.

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Acknowledgments

We want to express our gratitude towards José Luís Madeira (FLUC) for dealing with the figures. We are also thankful to Danilo Pavone, author of the photographs 5, 6 and 7. This work was undertaken within the framework of the Projecto de Investigaçao Plurianual (DGPC: 2016-2019) ‘IGAEDIS. Da civitas Igaeditanorum à Egitânia. A construcción e evolução da cidade e a definição dos seus territórios da Época Romana até à doação dos Templários (séculos I a XII)’ – eje 3, and an agreement between the municipality of Idanha-a-Nova, Universidade de Coimbra (FLUC) and Universidade Nova de Lisboa (FCSH). The work of one of the authors has been further supported by the programme Fellowsea Marie Curie Co-Found, Universidade de Vigo.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ed. Olga Gallego, Campus As Lagoas, Ourense. Faculty of History. GEAAT, University of Vigo, Despacho no. 28, 1 Andar, Vigo, Spain

    Adolfo Fernández Fernández

  2. Departamento de História, Estudos Europeus, Arqueologia e Artes. Secção/Instituto de Arqueologia. Faculty of Arts and Humanities. Ceaacp, University of Coimbra, Largo da Porta Férrea, 3004-530, Coimbra, Portugal

    Pedro C. Carvalho

  3. Council of Idanha-a-Nova (Portugal). Centro Cultural Raiano, Zona Nova de Expansão, 6060-101, Idanha-a-Nova, Portugal

    José Cristóvão & Patrícia Dias

  4. Instituto Universitario de Geologia, ESCI, Campus de Elviña, University of Coruña, Galicia, 15071, A Coruña, Spain

    Jorge Sanjurjo-Sánchez

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  1. Adolfo Fernández Fernández
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  2. Pedro C. Carvalho
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Correspondence to Adolfo Fernández Fernández.

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Fernández, A.F., Carvalho, P.C., Cristóvão, J. et al. Dating the early Christian baptisteries from Idanha-a-Velha—the Suebi-Visigothic Egitania: stratigraphy, radiocarbon and OSL. Archaeol Anthropol Sci 11, 5691–5704 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12520-019-00901-9

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