Il castello crociato di Qala’at al-Bahr a Sidone. Contributo alla storia degli insediamenti d’Oltremare attraverso l’analisi dei paramenti murarie delle marche lapidarie.

Abstract

The practice to mark blockstones with etched signs by craftsmen is a well known method they used to highlight their work, in order to be paid (piecerates marks) or to identify the location of the block (position marks). The Glyptography assists the studies above the craftsmen related to their way to be associated. The Saida sea-castle of Qala’at al-Bahr was erected during the Crusade period, by a group of pilgrim builders from France, England and Spain. The structures of the castle are plenty of blockstone marks, most of these are piecerates marks, with recurring signs. This case-study, also considering the particular construction techniques of bugnato style, could be a reference point for the Crusade archaeology. The quality of the great number of marks confirms the thesis above the nature of land occupation by crusaders. It took place by not only monks, soldiers or merchants, but also by groups of builders, which stabilized at least for the last of construction.