La producción de mobiliario litúrgico en la Galicia altomedieval: piezas, talleres y escenarios del poder

Abstract

This paper presents an archaeological study of the production of early medieval liturgical installations in Galicia (NW Spain), specifically the remains of 13 chancels and 19 altars. A systematic analysis of their archaeological contexts, formal characteristics, materials, production processes and chronologies is applied for the first time to these elements. Despite the important limits of this material record, the results allow us to identify several artisan workshops, two main chronological periods of production (4-6th centuries AD and 9th-10th centuries AD) and some specific features of these elements like the frequent use of prestigious materials and spolia. Finally, we will discuss the potential of these remains as powerful indicators of economic investment in church foundation in early medieval Galicia.