CHARACTERIZATION OF MORTARS FROM THE CASTLE OF LOPERA (JAÉN, SPAIN)

The Lopera Castle, located in the center of the municipality of Lopera, in the province of Jaén, is a fortress of Christian origin built in the second half of the thirteenth century, with major reforms made in the fifteenth century.

The structure of the castle has an irregular pentagonal plan, defended by five towers at its corners, some circular and others square. In its interior, two main towers stand out: the Tower of Santa María and the Tower of San Miguel, joined by walls. The Tower of Santa Maria, also known as the Tower of Homage, houses a Gothic chapel built in 1535, while the Tower of San Miguel was used to control access to the fortress.

Throughout its history, the castle has had various uses, including wine cellar, cinema, theatrical forum and wedding hall. During the Spanish Civil War, it suffered significant damage, especially in the Tower of San Miguel, where the impacts of projectiles can still be seen.

The objective of this study was the characterization of two samples of mortar from the Lopera Castle. For this purpose, a compositional, morphological and textural analysis has been carried out to provide objective and precise data on these materials.