238 Apuntes del Alcázar de Sevilla
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• The majority hypothesis is that this original enclosure was lo-
cated within an area which would include the Patio de Banderas,
the Palacio del Yeso and the Palacio del Caracol. The wall, which
only preserved remains would belong to the Plaza del Triunfo,
Calle JR Murube and the eastern wing to the Torre del Agua,
would cross under the current boundary between the Crucero
and the Montería, and under the Palacio del Rey Don Pedro, to
turn eastward on the south wall of the Gothic palace. The result
would be an irregular rectangle of 188 x 176 x 115 x 71. The door
would be the one located on the eastern boundary of that street,
discovered in 1960 by Felix Hernandez and recovered by Tabales
team in 2000. This theory, already presented by Tubino in 1885,
was mostly defended by R. Manzano (Manzano, 1995, 106) and
followed by most researchers (A.Marín, 1990.39-40), (Valor, 1991,
69) to the present days.
• The second hypothesis, defended by A. Jimenez (1981, 13) agrees
with the one in the adscription to the initial building with stony
paintings of the streets JR Murube and Triunfo, as well as the
eastern North face in their half. The difference would consist
in closing eastward from the Patio de la Montería, forming a
quadrangular enclosure with the Eastern irregular side due to
the existence of the aforementioned horseshoe door by Felix
Hernandez and the persistence, even in the Umayyad period, of
the door of the Roman cardo and Via Augusta.
Regarding the dating of the original enclosure, the main theories are
equally divided in two:
• According to the majority opinion, the first enclosure would be
identified with the “Casa del Gobernador” (Dar al Imara). This
hypothesis would be supported by (Guerrero Lovillo, 1974.90),
(Jiménez, A., 1981, 15), (Valencia R. 1986, 164). The foundation
would consist in the text by Al Bakri (Trad. E. Vidal, 1982, 33)
which mentions the emir Abderrahman (before becoming Ca-
liph), ordering the destruction of the city wall in 913-914 (leaving
highest parts at the same level than lowest parts), after which
he would order to build the “Antiguo Alcázar” of the governor,
fortifying it with high stone walls and inaccessible towers.
• According to Rafael Manzano (1976, 76) and M. Value (1991.93),
both architectural style, factory, bonds, as well as the formal par-
allels with other buildings suggest a somewhat older chronology.
According to Valor (1991, 39) some Islamic texts contribute to
this, such as those by Ibn al Qutiyya (Trad. J. Ribera, 1926, 51) in
which is quoted, after the destruction of the city by the Normans
in 844-45, how the Cordovan troops found the governor fenced
in his citadel. Also Ibn Hayyan (Trad. E. Guraieb, 1953, XIX, 164)
relates how during the Muladi revolt in 889-90, Umayya was
attacked in his palace in the center of the city, and then fled
toward the “Palacio del Príncipe” where he took shelter. In short,
the irregular smutted bond, the shape of the towers, size, etc.
and references to the existence of two palaces in the Emirate city,
would allow placing the primitive enclosure during the second
half of the ninth century, perhaps built by the Syrian Abdala,
who was ordered to rebuild the walls by Abderrahman II (Ibn al
Qutiya, trans. Ribera, 1926, 50). As clearest parallel would be the
Alcazaba de Mérida (834) and the Castillo de Balaguer (897).
In July 1999, the investigations belonging to the project called “Inte-
gral archaeological analysis of the Real Alcázar of Seville. Historical
development and urban integration” were authorized by the Com-
mission of Archaeology DGBC. The work, funded and promoted
by the Patronato del Real Alcazar, intended to complement the
scattered information, the result of recent campaigns undertaken
urgently, which represented a considerable advance in the organi-
zation of the extensive existing archaeological information, in turn
increasing the available data on the main areas of the whole.
Studies of walls and stratigraphic surveys performed were a good
starting point for future systematic research subject to clear scien-
tific premises. It was understood that an architectural complex of
the size of the Alcázar needed continuous archaeological research
as a basic tool of management and patrimonial conception. In this
sense, and as a first step, a series of preferred activities were pro-
jected, framed in a systematic program of research that would get a
reasonable amount of historical information by virtue of value and
complexity of the building.
The advantages of an ordered investigation were clear; some strict-
ly historical and with the building as main subject of study; other
with the city as a subject of analysis from the eighth century BC.
But undoubtedly, one of the greatest advantages lay in the organ-
ized anticipation regarding future (and continuing) rehabilitation
and predictable archaeological emergencies in the coming years.
Understanding this need, the Patronato del Real Alcazar decided to
study this pathway thus ensuring annual maintenance operations
arising from excavations and paramental studies, as the later works
of consolidation, restoration, enhancement and musealization of
the remains.
The General Research Project has been developed between 2000
and 2005, taking as its main objective the implementation of a pro-
gram of archaeological activities aimed at the evolutionary knowl-
edge of the architectural complex which we call “Alcázar de Sevil-
la”. The study of each construction phase has opened various lines
of research whose significance exceed the purely architectural and
particular to substantially affect the archaeological study of the ur-
ban area of Seville. The priority issues raised in the program were
historical-urban and constructive type. Some have been partially
solved during the last years of work, especially the digging in the
Patio de la Monteria, the prospective study of the elevations, the
surveillance of work and stratigraphic surveys and the analyses of
the Jardín de las Doncellas and the Portada de la Monteria, but for
the most part have done nothing but increase the interest and pos-
sibilities of research.
Archaeological research conducted by the team of Dr. Tabales in
the Alcázar between 1997 and 2005 correspond to a progressive in-
tervention scheme developed in different phases.
1. Work in support of the restoration:
• 1997: Archaeological excavation in the Patio de la Montería.
• 1998: Control of repaving works of the Patio de la Montería.
• 1999-2000. Archaeological intervention to support the re-
covery of the Puerta Primitiva del Alcázar (Patio de Banderas
nº16).
2. Punctual Scheduled Jobs:
• 1998: General Diagnosis and study of surfaces.
• 1999: Punctual Intervention: “stratigraphic studies and con-
structive analysis”
