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The (Old) Castle of Alcoutim ((ポルトガル語:Castelo Velho de Alcoutim)) is a medieval castle built onto a prehistoric castro located in the civil parish of Alcoutim, municipality of the same name, in the Portuguese Algarve. About one kilometre () north of the town of Alcoutim, the old castle is one of the more important Islamic military structures in the Algarve: it is both an important historical visit for tourists and histographically significant to the Muslim occupation of the region. Commonly confused with the younger Castle of Alcoutim, the old castle was abandoned in the 11th century, but its exploration and excavation was elaborated by archaeologists in the 20th century. ==History== The initial construction occurred in the 8th-9th century, although the space was occupied since the Bronze Age. The option to locate in this location, and not solely in the town of Alcoutim, has never been clearly explained. Likely, its conditions (the level of visibility) and the use of the original Roman structures (identified in the neighbouring town of Lourinhã) played a part in the early construction of this fortress.〔 What is certain is that the Old Castle was the centre of a vast territory, influenced by the river activities along the Guadiana, and on the other hand, by the level of mineral exploration in the region.〔〔Helena Catarino (1997-1998), p.599-602〕 A few lithic fragments, for example, were found in the Muslim living spaces of the structure.〔 It was the discovery of a few graves nearby from this period, during the archaeological excavations begun in 1986, that contributed to a better understanding of the site's roots.〔 Similar excavations at various levels on the site, allowed the determination of a range of occupation beginning with the Bronze Age and extending into the 11th century.〔 At one point, which coincided with the new Islamic powers during the Emirate of Córdoba, the fortress was constructed.〔 Later, during the Caliphate and early taifas, the local infrastructures were altered, resulting in the expansion of some living quarters into the defensive walls.〔〔〔Helena Catarino (1997-1998), p.597〕 At the beginning of the Middle Ages, the site could have also become a refuge site, protected by the rocky cliffs that encircled the site.〔〔 The defensive systems were altered over time, as is evident in the late construction of the tower protecting the main gate.〔〔 Abandoned during the 9th century, for reasons still unclear, the Castle did not recuperate its military importance nor role.〔 With the Reconquista of the Algarve (11th century), the new Christian powers privileged the village of Alcoutim, where they constructed a new castle and community, and abandoned the old castle altogether.〔〔 Yet, by the late-Middle Age, there were still some need for the old fort, necessitating some "modern" reforms to the site, including new Gothic gates.〔 Between 1986 and 1993, archaeological excavations were undertaken onsite by Helena Catarino.〔 On 7 October 1996, the site was classified as a ''Imóvel de Interesse Público'' (''Property of Public Interest'').〔 In the 2000s (decade), public works to requalify the site, supported by the ''Programa Operacional de Cooperação Transfronteiriça Portugal-Espanha'' (''Portugal-Spain Trans-frontier Cooperation/Operational Program''), and integrated into Project Guaditer.〔 These initiatives lead to the construction of stainless-steel guard-rails and platforms to allow visitors to view the structure and landscape in 2011. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Castle of Alcoutim (Old)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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