Lost fortress on Cresta del Gallo: A 300-year span

Los Garres Castle is a late Roman fortress situated on the northern slopes of the Cresta del Gallo mountain range within the Quijal de La Vega area of the Murcian pedanía of Los Garres, in Murcia, Spain. The earliest evidence of human activity at the site dates to the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD, characterized by sparse occupation on the hilltop with no substantial structural remains identified. Archaeological prospections have uncovered fragments of terra sigillata pottery, including African Red Slip Ware forms such as Hayes 12 (a channeled bowl possibly from the 2nd century AD) and Hayes 23 (dated to the mid-2nd to early 3rd century AD), representing only about 6.7% of the overall sigillata assemblage and indicating limited Roman-era presence likely tied to temporary or seasonal use.

The fortification of Los Garres Castle, particularly the acropolis walls, represents a significant shift toward militarized development in the late Roman period, occurring in the 6th century AD. This construction postdated earlier civilian infrastructure, including water reservoirs from the late 4th to early 5th centuries AD. Archaeological evidence indicates that the walls were built directly upon the bedrock, utilizing rectangular or square rock-cut notches arranged in a stepped manner for stability, with facades composed of ashlared and faced stones bound by lime mortar and filled internally with a mixture of lime and stone rubble.

The erection of these walls necessitated the destruction of one 4th-century reservoir (Balsa nº2) to accommodate the gateway passageway, while two others (Balsas nº1 and nº4) were deliberately preserved outside the perimeter, underscoring a prioritization of defensive imperatives over water storage capacity. This 6th-century fortification likely reflects possible Byzantine influence, aligning with the period of Byzantine military activity in southeastern Hispania following the reconquest of 552 AD.

Positioned strategically near the Garruchal Pass, Los Garres Castle formed part of a broader defensive network safeguarding the Campo de Cartagena region against Visigothic advances, controlling access routes and potentially securing local Hispano-Roman populations in areas outside direct Visigothic control. The occupation of Los Garres Castle continued into the Visigothic period, with evidence indicating sustained use until at least the early 7th century AD, though the site's importance gradually declined from the 6th century onward.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata