Home » Project Period

Project Period

The FORNACIS project is to be executed over a period of four years, from 1 June 2020 to 31 May 2024. During this period, the activities and tasks included in the scientific and technical report and in the project work plan will be carried out. However, due to delays in final approval of the project (September 2020), the initial work plan has been adjusted.

The activities scheduled in relation to the general research objectives are summarised below. These activities will supplement the studies conducted back in the eighties and nineties of the past century. Each year, summaries and photo albums will be added, showing the main interventions, progress and contributions made. This approach aims to engage both the scientific community and society in general as participants in the development and evolution of the project.

2020-21

The tasks scheduled for this annual period (shown with an asterisk and in italics) are as follows:

LINE A. Furthering knowledge about the oppidum at Hornachuelos-Fornacis within the historical context of Beturia and southwestern Hispania

Objective A.1. Description of the defences, urban design and stratigraphy of the oppidum.
- Activity A.1.a. Photogrammetric and topographical survey.*
- Activity A.1.b. Geophysical prospection of the oppidum.*
- Activity A.1.c. Digitalisation of the main stratigraphic and planimetric measurements of the oppidum.
Objective A.2. Study of the necropolis at Peñascón.
- Activity A.2.a. Isotopic examination of the human skeletal remains.*
- Activity A.2.b. Digitalisation of the main stratigraphic and planimetric measurements of the necropolis.
Objective A.3. Paleoenvironmental and paleoeconomic aspects.
- Activity A.3.a. Examination of the anthrocological and carpological plant remains.
- Activity A.3.b. Archaeometric characterisation of mineral, metal and coin remains excavated.*
Objective A.4. Mining and metallurgical characterisation of Sierra de Hornachos.
- Activity A.4.a. Geoarchaeological prospection of the mining sites in the vicinity of Hornachos.
- A.4.b. Archaeometric characterisation of the mining and metallurgy remains to be found.
Objective A.5. Integrated analysis of the material culture and chronology.
- Activity A.5.a. Classification of the material culture of the oppidum and necropolis and categorisation by archaeological phases.
- Activity A.5.b. AMS dating.
Objective A.6. Integration of Hornachuelos-Fornacis into the historical issue of Beturia and southwestern Hispania.
- Activity A.6.a. Integrated study of the records of Hornachuelos-Fornacis and those of other contemporary enclaves and territories of Beturia and southwestern Hispania.
- Activity A.6.b. Preparation of a doctoral thesis.

LINE B. Developing the scientific and heritage-related dimension of the oppidum at Hornachuelos-Fornacis within the framework created by the Alba Plata Project

Objective B.1. Scientific dissemination of the findings.
- Activity B.1.a. Preparation of the scientific monograph and report on the project and presentation of results in diverse forums.
Objective B.2. Heritage dissemination in society.
- Activity B.2.a. Creation and maintenance of a bilingual website for the project.*
- Activity B.2.b. Preparation of texts for a new Guide about the site and explanatory signs on-site and at the Interpretation Centre.

2021-22

The tasks scheduled for this annual period (shown with an asterisk and in italics) are as follows:

LINE A. Furthering knowledge about the oppidum at Hornachuelos-Fornacis within the historical context of Beturia and southwestern Hispania

Objective A.1. Description of the defences, urban design and stratigraphy of the oppidum.
- Activity A.1.a. Photogrammetric and topographical survey.*
- Activity A.1.b. Geophysical prospection of the oppidum.*
- Activity A.1.c. Digitalisation of the main stratigraphic and planimetric measurements of the oppidum.
Objective A.2. Study of the necropolis at Peñascón.
- Activity A.2.a. Isotopic examination of the human skeletal remains.*
- Activity A.2.b. Digitalisation of the main stratigraphic and planimetric measurements of the necropolis.
Objective A.3. Paleoenvironmental and paleoeconomic aspects.
- Activity A.3.a. Examination of the anthrocological and carpological plant remains.
- Activity A.3.b. Archaeometric characterisation of mineral, metal and coin remains excavated.*
Objective A.4. Mining and metallurgical characterisation of Sierra de Hornachos.
- Activity A.4.a. Geoarchaeological prospection of the mining sites in the vicinity of Hornachos.
- A.4.b. Archaeometric characterisation of the mining and metallurgy remains to be found.
Objective A.5. Integrated analysis of the material culture and chronology.
- Activity A.5.a. Classification of the material culture of the oppidum and necropolis and categorisation by archaeological phases.
- Activity A.5.b. AMS dating.
Objective A.6. Integration of Hornachuelos-Fornacis into the historical issue of Beturia and southwestern Hispania.
- Activity A.6.a. Integrated study of the records of Hornachuelos-Fornacis and those of other contemporary enclaves and territories of Beturia and southwestern Hispania.
- Activity A.6.b. Preparation of a doctoral thesis.*

LINE B. Developing the scientific and heritage-related dimension of the oppidum at Hornachuelos-Fornacis within the framework created by the Alba Plata Project

Objective B.1. Scientific dissemination of the findings.
- Activity B.1.a. Preparation of the scientific monograph and report on the project and presentation of results in diverse forums.
Objective B.2. Heritage dissemination in society.
- Activity B.2.a. Creation and maintenance of a bilingual website for the project.*
- Activity B.2.b. Preparation of texts for a new Guide about the site and explanatory signs on-site and at the Interpretation Centre.

2022-23

The tasks scheduled for this annual period (shown with an asterisk and in italics) are as follows:

LINE A. Furthering knowledge about the oppidum at Hornachuelos-Fornacis within the historical context of Beturia and southwestern Hispania

Objective A.1. Description of the defences, urban design and stratigraphy of the oppidum.
- Activity A.1.a. Photogrammetric and topographical survey.
- Activity A.1.b. Geophysical prospection of the oppidum.
- Activity A.1.c. Digitalisation of the main stratigraphic and planimetric measurements of the oppidum.*
Objective A.2. Study of the necropolis at Peñascón.
- Activity A.2.a. Isotopic examination of the human skeletal remains.
- Activity A.2.b. Digitalisation of the main stratigraphic and planimetric measurements of the necropolis.*
Objective A.3. Paleoenvironmental and paleoeconomic aspects.
- Activity A.3.a. Examination of the anthrocological and carpological plant remains.*
- Activity A.3.b. Archaeometric characterisation of mineral, metal and coin remains excavated.
Objective A.4. Mining and metallurgical characterisation of Sierra de Hornachos.
- Activity A.4.a. Geoarchaeological prospection of the mining sites in the vicinity of Hornachos.*
- A.4.b. Archaeometric characterisation of the mining and metallurgy remains to be found.*
Objective A.5. Integrated analysis of the material culture and chronology.
- Activity A.5.a. Classification of the material culture of the oppidum and necropolis and categorisation by archaeological phases.*
- Activity A.5.b. AMS dating.
Objective A.6. Integration of Hornachuelos-Fornacis into the historical issue of Beturia and southwestern Hispania.
- Activity A.6.a. Integrated study of the records of Hornachuelos-Fornacis and those of other contemporary enclaves and territories of Beturia and southwestern Hispania.
- Activity A.6.b. Preparation of a doctoral thesis.*

LINE B. Developing the scientific and heritage-related dimension of the oppidum at Hornachuelos-Fornacis within the framework created by the Alba Plata Project

Objective B.1. Scientific dissemination of the findings.
- Activity B.1.a. Preparation of the scientific monograph and report on the project and presentation of results in diverse forums.
Objective B.2. Heritage dissemination in society.
- Activity B.2.a. Creation and maintenance of a bilingual website for the project.*
- Activity B.2.b. Preparation of texts for a new Guide about the site and explanatory signs on-site and at the Interpretation Centre.

2023-24

The tasks scheduled for this annual period (shown with an asterisk and in italics) are as follows:

LINE A. Furthering knowledge about the oppidum at Hornachuelos-Fornacis within the historical context of Beturia and southwestern Hispania

Objective A.1. Description of the defences, urban design and stratigraphy of the oppidum.
- Activity A.1.a. Photogrammetric and topographical survey.
- Activity A.1.b. Geophysical prospection of the oppidum.
- Activity A.1.c. Digitalisation of the main stratigraphic and planimetric measurements of the oppidum.*
Objective A.2. Study of the necropolis at Peñascón.
- Activity A.2.a. Isotopic examination of the human skeletal remains.
- Activity A.2.b. Digitalisation of the main stratigraphic and planimetric measurements of the necropolis.*
Objective A.3. Paleoenvironmental and paleoeconomic aspects.
- Activity A.3.a. Examination of the anthrocological and carpological plant remains.*
- Activity A.3.b. Archaeometric characterisation of mineral, metal and coin remains excavated.
Objective A.4. Mining and metallurgical characterisation of Sierra de Hornachos.
- Activity A.4.a. Geoarchaeological prospection of the mining sites in the vicinity of Hornachos.
- A.4.b. Archaeometric characterisation of the mining and metallurgy remains to be found.
Objective A.5. Integrated analysis of the material culture and chronology.
- Activity A.5.a. Classification of the material culture of the oppidum and necropolis and categorisation by archaeological phases.
- Activity A.5.b. AMS dating.*
Objective A.6. Integration of Hornachuelos-Fornacis into the historical issue of Beturia and southwestern Hispania.
- Activity A.6.a. Integrated study of the records of Hornachuelos-Fornacis and those of other contemporary enclaves and territories of Beturia and southwestern Hispania.*
- Activity A.6.b. Preparation of a doctoral thesis.*

LINE B. Developing the scientific and heritage-related dimension of the oppidum at Hornachuelos-Fornacis within the framework created by the Alba Plata Project

Objective B.1. Scientific dissemination of the findings.
- Activity B.1.a. Preparation of the scientific monograph and report on the project and presentation of results in diverse forums.*
Objective B.2. Heritage dissemination in society.
- Activity B.2.a. Creation and maintenance of a bilingual website for the project.*
- Activity B.2.b. Preparation of texts for a new Guide about the site and explanatory signs on-site and at the Interpretation Centre.*