Els camins catalans. Anàlisi arqueològica dels seus vestigis

Abstract

We shall begin with some considerations about different classifications of paths according to their characteristics, use and property. Afterwards, we shall include, for its study, an orientating bibliography more extense than what could be foreseen, but not already definitive in many aspects, specially about archaeolo­gical analyses of this topic. We shall start with the Roman road network, used and repared during the Middle Ages, we shall examine documentary notifications of main and secundary roads that were used, attracting the attention on wooden and stone bridges constructed during the Middle Ages. We shall focus more peculiarly our attention on specimens of the XIth century (Romanesque bridges) and the XIVth century (Gothic bridges) and more specially on the only two excava­ted meticulously till now, in the Llobregat Valley, that will allow us to know bet­ter the characteristics and the periods of their construction and successive resto­rings. We shall conclude with some references to small boats and bridges of boats to cross the main rivers, the Segre and the Ebro. As far as Catalan medieval roads are concerned, we still need more prospec­ting and direct investigations on sices to know them in depth, though we have already started treating from a local point of view.