Characterization of the bricks used in the construction of the Alcazaba (Malaga, Spain)

Abstract

The Alcazaba of Málaga is mainly built with manufactured materials (bricks, mortars and rammed-earth walls). It was constructed and reconstructed from VIIIth to XVth Centuries. The state of conservation of its structure on some zones is relatively bad, which makes neccesary a study to determine the causes and mechanisms of weathering. Beside, the constructive chronology on several areas is very uncertain, for what a relative datation study is being carried out with base on the mineralogical and petrographical characterization of bricks of known chronology, belonging to the most important building periods (XIth and XIIIth-XIVth centuries). Besides, this study allows to determine the source of the raw materials of the bricks.