Construction in Ferreiros
3,000 YEARS OF HUMAN OCCUPATION ON THE CÍES ISLANDS
Long before the Roman polymath Pliny the Elder mentioned the current Cíes Islands (Insulae Sicae) for the first time in the 1st century AD, this insular space had already been occupied in a more or less continuous manner by stable population groups since the Late Bronze Age (7th–6th century BC), as evidenced by the archaeological excavations carried out at the so-called Castro das Hortas (or Castro das Cíes), located on the Middle Island or Faro Island.
Although these archaeological findings, along with later documentary references, demonstrate human occupation of the archipelago for at least 3,000 years, the process of inhabiting the islands was not continuous, and the course of history itself shaped both the population numbers and the nature of that occupation. Thus, religious people, sailors, military personnel, industrial workers, and farming families are the most significant groups who populated the islands over the last thirty centuries.
After the end of the Late Antiquity and with the arrival of the Middle Ages, the instability caused by the presence of various invaders from the 9th century onward (Normans, Vikings, and even a small fleet from the Emirate of Córdoba) led the islands to experience alternating periods of depopulation or occupation, mainly by religious figures and settlers linked to the monasteries on the three islands: San Martiño on the South Island, San Estevo on the Middle Island, and possibly San Paio on the North Island.
From the late 16th century to well into the 18th century, the islands saw another phase of depopulation, except for brief moments when religious congregations returned, due to various military conflicts between the Spanish Crown and other European monarchies. Notably, the English fleet, led by Francis Drake, used the Cíes Islands as a base for their attacks on the towns of Baiona and Vigo in 1585 and 1589. This period marks the "militarization" of the islands, with several fortification projects proposed, although none were carried out, except for the construction of an artillery storehouse (at the old convent of San Estevo), a barracks for the so-called Carabineros del Reino, and a building for a prison.
The end of the military conflicts around the mid-19th century facilitated a change in the patterns of island occupation, with the construction of a lighthouse on the Middle Island in 1851-52, the establishment of maritime industry-related structures such as two salt factories (one on the South Island), and the return of several families from the nearby continental areas, especially from the Morrazo region, reaching about 45 permanent inhabitants. This new colonization prompted the construction of residential buildings and associated structures for agricultural activities on the surrounding lands: fences, terraced fields, granaries, and small animal pens.
WHAT WE SEE
We are looking at an example of a settlement made up of two main structures: a dwelling (1) and a granary (2) associated with it, both built using dry-stone construction.
The dwelling: It has a main rectangular room (A) of 25 m², in which there is a hearth, a possible oven, and storage niches built into the walls. To the north, there is an irregularly shaped room of about 7.5 m². On the west façade, two small appendages (C – D) may have been used for animal pens. The walls, which are barely one meter high, are constructed in a rough manner using uncut granite stones, without mortar. The configuration and characteristics of the roof are unknown, but it is hypothesized that it was a pitched roof made with wooden beams and plant materials.
The granary: It measures 203x280 cm in plan, built with three sections, supported by monolithic stone pedestals, on which the walls of the chamber were raised using large blocks, resulting in an approximate height of 2 meters from the base to the roof support. The base is closed and part of it is underground, functioning as a cellar (similar to a barn). The upper part of the façades is finished with two monolithic pieces forming a triangular tympanum, on which a gabled roof would rest. The gable of the main façade, to the north, has a lowered arch, completing the opening of the door.
The construction style of these buildings is typical of the islands and would have responded, in many cases, to specific periods of occupation or the need for seasonal living spaces, as suggested by the existing historical documentation. This characteristic makes it difficult to draw parallels with other areas on the continent, especially in nearby territories. The exact chronology of this site is unknown, though it is likely that these constructions are not older than the 19th century.
The granary: It measures 203x280 cm in plan, built with three sections, supported by monolithic stone pedestals, on which the walls of the chamber were raised using large blocks, resulting in an approximate height of 2 meters from the base to the roof support. The base is closed and part of it is underground, functioning as a cellar (similar to a barn). The upper part of the façades is finished with two monolithic pieces forming a triangular tympanum, on which a gabled roof would rest. The gable of the main façade, to the north, has a lowered arch, completing the opening of the door.
The construction style of these buildings is typical of the islands and would have responded, in many cases, to specific periods of occupation or the need for seasonal living spaces, as suggested by the existing historical documentation. This characteristic makes it difficult to draw parallels with other areas on the continent, especially in nearby territories. The exact chronology of this site is unknown, though it is likely that these constructions are not older than the 19th century.
3D VIEWER – O HÓRREO
Ferreiros reconstrucción