Análisis arqueológico y patrimonial de las atarazanas medievalesLos casos de Sevilla y pisa desde una perspectiva Europea

Abstract

In recent decades, the industrial buildings identified as historical shipyards have become the focus of important research and heritage interests. This attention, considering the often limited artistic value of these structures, stems from the recognition of the great significance of these buildings as tangible material evidence of ancient ports. From this perspective, the shipyards may be understood as symbols of the commercial, social and cultural relationships which enabled the maritime cities of the Mediterranean to prosper in economic, urbanistic and demographic terms, from the Middle Ages onwards. Pisa (Tuscany, Italy) and Seville (Andalusia, Spain) constitute two exceptions within this panorama, as cases of riverside cities which in time lost their connection to the sea. In these contexts, the shipyards are evidence of that lost connection, which in the past contributed to the fortune of these cities. With the passing of time, the Reales Atarazanas of Seville and the Tersana of Pisa became obsolete as shipyards and were reused for other utilitarian purposes, leading to the structural transformation of their spaces. This intense evolution gave life to monuments of great historical and architectural complexity. Due to this complexity, we propose that the most effective way to analyse and understand these monuments is from an interdisciplinary and inclusive perspective. Our study presents a comprehensive approach to these monuments based on a detailed archaeological, historical and architectural inquiry, and offers an analysis of the processes surrounding their evolution as elements of the cultural heritage. The approach set out in this thesis, including the collation of international experiences, contributes to a more complete understanding of these complex historical monuments, which in turn establishes the basis for better conservation practices. The present study offers itself as a transversal and international case study, carried out within the framework of an interdisciplinary doctoral program.