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Castle History
Between the 9th and 13th centuries, Zorita Castle thrived as a focal point for commerce and military adventures during the wars to control Iberia between the Caliphate of Cordoba and the northern kingdoms of Leon, Castilla, and Aragon. Since then, the castle has fallen into obscurity -- remote, ignored by academia, and until recently left to crumble. Over the last decade, the castle, the former headquarters of one of Spain's most important military orders, has come back to life. Since 2014, overseen by the Heritage Office of the regional Castilla-La Mancha government, the Zorita Castle field school teaches students and archaeology lovers from around the world how to conduct an archaeological excavation while uncovering part of the castle history. The best preserved building inside the castle is the church of San Benito. The knights of the order of Calatrava built the church at the end of the 12th century when the castle became the order's headquarters. Documents from that time mention a cemetery, but before our project the only material evidence was a long stone slab, possibly a burial cover. When cleaning the stone, a medieval tic-tac-toe board, a game we owe to the Arabs, was discovered. As of the 15th century, the commanders of the Calatrava Order stopped using the castle as a residence, opting for homes in nearby towns such as Pastrana. Thus the castle became an arsenal, guarding firearms, catapults, armor, ammunition and tools. 
Read about Zorita Castle in Current World Archaeology magazine: Download File Experience a 3D visit to Zorita Castle (Bitraze) Download our book on Zorita Castle 
The Order of Calatrava and Zorita Castle The Order of Calatrava was founded in the modern region of Castilla-La Mancha, specifically in the province of Ciudad Real, where during the 12th century the struggle intensified between the Caliphate and the Kingdom of Castilla. The region in La Mancha south of Almagro is known today as Campo de Calatrava, the first seat of the institution of monk-warriors. At the Battle of Alarcos, July 19, 1195, Castilla suffered a defeat that included the loss of the original Calatrava Castle. The order was on the brink of extinction and survivors took refuge in Zorita Castle, one of their last few properties. In Zorita, the order reorganized, rearmed, and retook the battlefield to conquer more territory. After a united front of Castilla, Aragon, and Navarra (with French and Portuguese volunteers) defeated the Caliphate in the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa in 1212, the order settled permanently in the New Calatrava castle, designed to withstand a large-scale siege. 
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The Study of the Bones
The second week will be dedicated to the study of the human remains discovered at Zorita Castle. After packaging, the bones will be taken to the laboratory where the inventory of each skeleton will be carried out as well as the preparation of the registration forms for each tomb. For the photographic record of the human remains, the reconstruction of the skeleton will be necessary. This process will be the first evaluation of the body. Later, the bones will be studied in detail for injuries and diseases. Osteology workshop Introduction to osteology: the human skeleton Anthropometry: systematic measurements of standard parameters Determination of size and sex Determination of age at death Health of the population: degenerative diseases, deficiency diseases, infectious diseases, traumatic injuries. |
Unravelling social status in the first medieval military order of the Iberian Peninsula using isotope analysis. Pérez-Ramallo et al. 2024.
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History Lectures
Zorita Castle History
Calatrava Military Order
Archaeology in Zorita Castle
Daily Schedule
6:30 am Breakfast
7:00 Excavation
10:30 Snack break
1:30 pm Free time
2:30 Lunch
3:30 Siesta
6:00 Laboratory/Lectures/Afternoon excursions
9:00 Dinner
Weekend excursions
Toledo World Heritage City
Visigothic site of Recopolis
Zorita Castle History
Calatrava Military Order
Archaeology in Zorita Castle
Daily Schedule
6:30 am Breakfast
7:00 Excavation
10:30 Snack break
1:30 pm Free time
2:30 Lunch
3:30 Siesta
6:00 Laboratory/Lectures/Afternoon excursions
9:00 Dinner
Weekend excursions
Toledo World Heritage City
Visigothic site of Recopolis
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accommodationS
The group, including ArchaeoSpain staff, will be staying at Posada de Zorita guest house, a five-minute walk down from the castle. The students will be sharing double and triple rooms with en suite bathrooms and air conditioning.
Fixed menu meals will be provided at the Posada where we have an excellent cook who serves up a wide variety of Spanish home-cooked dishes.
Fixed menu meals will be provided at the Posada where we have an excellent cook who serves up a wide variety of Spanish home-cooked dishes.
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dates & fees
Program dates for 2025: July 20-August 2
Program Fees: US$ 2,250
Fees Include:
• Full Room and Board
• Fieldwork training
• Seminars and workshops
• Excursions and other activities
• Medical Insurance
• Transportation to and from airport
• Application fee
• Administrative costs
Part of your fee will go toward the research project.
Fees DO NOT include airfare
PAYMENT PROCESS:
To reserve a space, you must pay a $400 application deposit (included in the price of the program). The remainder of the program fee will be due as soon as the program is full, and you will be notified in advance. Application fees will be refunded if the applicant is not selected.
Application Deadline:
Rolling application. We accept applications until all spaces are filled.
Cancellation and Refund Policy:
• Before March 1st: All payments, except for $100 from the application deposit, are refundable.
•Between March 1st and April 1st: Application fee non-refundable. The remaining balance is refundable.
• After April 1st: All payments are non-refundable unless your application is rejected by the program director.
Program Fees: US$ 2,250
Fees Include:
• Full Room and Board
• Fieldwork training
• Seminars and workshops
• Excursions and other activities
• Medical Insurance
• Transportation to and from airport
• Application fee
• Administrative costs
Part of your fee will go toward the research project.
Fees DO NOT include airfare
PAYMENT PROCESS:
To reserve a space, you must pay a $400 application deposit (included in the price of the program). The remainder of the program fee will be due as soon as the program is full, and you will be notified in advance. Application fees will be refunded if the applicant is not selected.
Application Deadline:
Rolling application. We accept applications until all spaces are filled.
Cancellation and Refund Policy:
• Before March 1st: All payments, except for $100 from the application deposit, are refundable.
•Between March 1st and April 1st: Application fee non-refundable. The remaining balance is refundable.
• After April 1st: All payments are non-refundable unless your application is rejected by the program director.
Travel Arrangements:
You should begin making travel plans as soon as your place in the group is reserved, and you should complete them upon being notified of your selection. We strongly recommend that participants purchase travel insurance to cover all needs including medical, accident, baggage loss, delays and personal liability. ArchaeoSpain is not a travel provider nor is a registered travel agent. Your travel arrangements to and from Spain are subject to the terms and conditions of your travel agency. In the rare event that the program is cancelled, ArchaeoSpain will refund program fees, but is not responsible for non-refundable airline or other tickets or payments or any similar penalties that may be incurred. It is your responsibility to protect yourself against airline and travel agency cancellation fees.
Medical Insurance:
All ArchaeoSpain participants are covered with an insurance packet that provides medical, surgical treatment, and prescription drugs in case of accident or sudden illness. With your program packet we will send you more details regarding this coverage, but you may contact our staff for more information.
European students should bring an EHIC card with them.
You should begin making travel plans as soon as your place in the group is reserved, and you should complete them upon being notified of your selection. We strongly recommend that participants purchase travel insurance to cover all needs including medical, accident, baggage loss, delays and personal liability. ArchaeoSpain is not a travel provider nor is a registered travel agent. Your travel arrangements to and from Spain are subject to the terms and conditions of your travel agency. In the rare event that the program is cancelled, ArchaeoSpain will refund program fees, but is not responsible for non-refundable airline or other tickets or payments or any similar penalties that may be incurred. It is your responsibility to protect yourself against airline and travel agency cancellation fees.
Medical Insurance:
All ArchaeoSpain participants are covered with an insurance packet that provides medical, surgical treatment, and prescription drugs in case of accident or sudden illness. With your program packet we will send you more details regarding this coverage, but you may contact our staff for more information.
European students should bring an EHIC card with them.
Right of Refusal:
ArchaeoSpain reserves the right to refuse an applicant’s selection. This is a rare occurrence and is most likely due to a person’s inability to meet health requirements or in the interest of group compatibility. Once in the field, the program director and ArchaeoSpain reserve the right to send a student away from the program should that person’s behavior compromise the safety, research objectives and general performance of the group, or violate Spanish laws, regulations or customs.
ArchaeoSpain reserves the right to refuse an applicant’s selection. This is a rare occurrence and is most likely due to a person’s inability to meet health requirements or in the interest of group compatibility. Once in the field, the program director and ArchaeoSpain reserve the right to send a student away from the program should that person’s behavior compromise the safety, research objectives and general performance of the group, or violate Spanish laws, regulations or customs.
the staff
SITE DIRECTORS:
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Dionisio Urbina Martínez
Ph.D. from Madrid's Complutense University and co-director of ArchaeoSpain. Dionisio has been a professional archaeologist since 1990 and has directed over 50 archaeological excavations: Medieval, Late Antique, Roman, Iron and Bronze Age. He specializes in the Roman world and the Second Iron Age from central Iberia. Dionisio has published many scientific articles and books, and co-edited several conferences and exhibition catalogs. He taught the course “Generalist in Antiquity and the 20th Century” at the Álvaro Durán Center for Arts and Business from 2001 to 2007, and was a teacher in Cultural Management at the University Antonio de Nebrija in 2009 and 2010. |
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Víctor Barrera Alarcón
Victor earned his undergraduate degree in History and Archaeology, and his master's degree in Physical Anthropology from the Complutense University in Madrid. He also trained in forensic anthropology at the Institute of Professional Training in Forensic Sciences in Madrid. Victor has worked with human remains on more than a dozen archaeological sites in Spain, Cyprus, and Serbia. He has been leading the Osteoarchaeology Laboratory at the Complutense University since 2020 and has taught several introductory courses on osteoarchaeology. |
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If you take part in one of ArchaeoSpain's programs, you agree to respect the archaeological sites and monuments in accordance with the laws of the country, and to accept the code of ethics that does not allow taking photographs of the archaeological sites or of the discoveries made in them. The publication of photographs related to the sites and their findings, especially on social media, always requires prior approval from the directors of the archaeological sites.
excursions
You will be immersed in a research project and live in a different country for several weeks. During our weekend excursions you will have the opportunity to experience different aspects of the Spanish culture and traditions, visiting historical cities, picturesque villages, and archaeological sites.
Full-day excursions:
Toledo, World Heritage City, is known as the city of the three cultures: Muslim, Christian, and Jewish. We will visit the Cristo de la Luz mosque, the Tránsito synagogue, and the Cathedral of Toledo. We’ll get lost in its narrow streets, eat tapas at outdoor cafes, and we will also make time for some shopping.
Full-day excursions:
Toledo, World Heritage City, is known as the city of the three cultures: Muslim, Christian, and Jewish. We will visit the Cristo de la Luz mosque, the Tránsito synagogue, and the Cathedral of Toledo. We’ll get lost in its narrow streets, eat tapas at outdoor cafes, and we will also make time for some shopping.
Morning Excursion
Recópolis. The only well-preserved Visigothic city in Spain is located a mile down the road from the castle. We will visit its ruins and small museum to understand the region before the castle was built.
Recópolis. The only well-preserved Visigothic city in Spain is located a mile down the road from the castle. We will visit its ruins and small museum to understand the region before the castle was built.
photo archive
survivors' tales"This was my first dig, and July 9th was just like any other day on the site, exciting and fascinating. As always, the walk up to Zorita Castle was filled with beautiful views, but the site was where the real finds were waiting. After brushing and excavating the walls, the team started in on the floor. Working on the southern end of the room was tough going, the soil was quite compact with a sandy brown coloring.
A smooth white stone appeared and looked different than the usual finds. I showed it to the director of the site and his face lit up. When he showed it to the other director she let out a squeal. I had stumbled upon an ax head from the Neolithic age. I could not quite believe it. I had held something thousands of years old and it had survived those many years to tell its story." - Sydney Comstock, 2014 "Today we began by excavating around the house-shaped structure. I was digging in the stratigraphic unit 104. My goal was to excavate the layer down to see if the two flanking walls had an end point. This question had not yet been answered, as the trench was not deep enough to tell. Unit 104 has gray-white colored soil that is very light, sandy, and extremely dry. We found many bone and pottery fragments along with some iron and glass. All of the bone fragments were animal. The pottery ranges in color from white to green-blue to black. Many of the pieces lack decoration, but some have geometric patters painted or stamped on." - Katherine Hodge, 2015 "Today is the 10th day of our three-week-long excavation at the Castillo de Zorita de los Canes in Guadalajara, Spain. We will continue to excavate a rubbish pit to see what the castle dwellers had thrown away. The objects from this layer may tell us who used this pit, what the people of the castle ate, what they used as cups and plates, and what they fueled a flame with. The structure next to the rubbish pit is thought to be a room for a castle prior or priest." - Madison Taylor, 2014 
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