Nestled within the Sierra de la Demanda, in the heart of Burgos, the archaeological site of Cuyacabras offers a peculiar glimpse into the realm of high-medieval archaeology. Professor Alberto del Castillo led the excavations from 1969 to 1971, uncovering this complex necropolis dating back to the Repoblación era (9th to 13th centuries). With at least 183 burials documented, this necropolis includes areas surrounding a church and nearby sectors.
The evidence mostly comes from rock-carved burials, as well as slab burials in the form of cists and lateral niches. The classified rock-carved burials fall into three categories: 'bañera'-style forms, anthropomorphic-style forms, and lateral niches. Among the anthropomorphic tombs, the favored head shapes were rounded or arched, while the 'bañera' type was most commonly elliptical. The ages of the deceased reveal an interesting pattern - while adult individuals seem to be interred in 'bañera'-style tombs and anthropomorphic forms with equal frequency, infant graves tend to be buried in the elliptical 'bañera' form.
Despite the absence of remnants from the church, there are faint markings on the rock indicating a simple rectangular floor plan. To access the church, there is a staircase of eight steps carved into the rock.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Nicolo Ciampini
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