The Islamic Presence in al-Qasr Alcácer do Sal

This work, divided into two volumes, is the result of two years of research aimed at understanding the Muslim past in the city of Alcácer do Sal. Based on documentary sources and archaeological remains, the author reveals the city’s defensive system and urban planning from the 9th to the 13th centuries. The first chapter provides methodological context, discussing the objectives and methods that guided the research. The second chapter takes a closer look at the territory in order to understand the factors that allowed for continued human occupation and, at the same time, shaped how people settled and adapted to the place. The third chapter provides a detailed analysis of the walls and towers that make up the fortification, followed by a description of the construction techniques and, subsequently, their interpretation, chronological attribution, and parallels with other military structures in al-Andalus. The fourth chapter provides an overview of the urban space, and the final chapter studies the artifacts that have made it possible to date the residential areas, with a view to their integration into the urban space.