Absent Coinage: Archaeological Contexts and Tremisses on the Central Iberian Peninsula in the 7th and 8th CenturiesAD

Reccopolis revealed: the first geomagnetic mapping of the early medieval Visigothic royal town

“…Local oral tradition, medieval Arab chronicles, Christian documents and decades of archaeological research have now definitively identified the location of the city, 1.5km south of the early medieval Islamic town of Zorita de los Canes (Olmo Enciso et al . 2008; Olmo Enciso 2012, 2015; Castro Priego 2016). The partially excavated ashlar city walls and towers, one of which survives to 5.8m in height, measure up well to the description of an exceptional royal foundation (Gómez de la Torre-Verdejo 2008).…”

“…As a major centre, Reccopolis had a relatively short life span of around two centuries, 133 years of which were under Visigothic rule—from its documented foundation in AD 578 to the collapse of the Visigothic kingdom in the Arab-Berber conquest of 711. Its mint issued coins under Leovigild, Reccared (586–601), Sisebut (612–621), Swinthila (621–631) and Witiza ( c. 700–710) (Castro Priego 2016: 33). Archaeological research and historical records agree that Reccopolis continued to be a significant central place in the early Islamic period.…”

“…Adjoining the western edge of the complex that stands on the street's western side is the ground floor of a large residence from the earliest phase of building (Figure 4.11) measuring 31 × 14.2m, and approximately 420m 2 . Its location next to the palace, combined with the presence of coins (including a gold tremissis of Leovigild, issued AD 580–586: Castro-Priego 2016: 47), a varied assemblage of pottery and glass, and imported fineware and amphorae dating to the late sixth and seventh centuries (Bonifay & Bernal-Casasola 2008: 103–107), indicates the high social status of the building's occupants. Immediately adjoining this large residential building is a second house (Figure 4.12) of similar design and dimensions (approximately 30 × 14.1m), of which only approximately 300m 2 has been excavated.…”