Tiny Housing District

Audio Guide: Tiny Housing District

Estinclellsdifusio - Complex arqueològic de Els Estinclells

Situated to the east of the large trench lies the final residential district of the settlement: the Tiny Housing District, which comprises Houses 20, 21, 22, 23, and 24.

This northern sector consists of five distinct, single-room structures. While their exact purpose remains a subject of archaeological debate, their layout and configuration suggest a functional role distinct from the larger, more complex houses found in other areas of the settlement.

These structures are exceptionally well-preserved. Unlike other sectors of the site, this land remained largely uncultivated, protecting the integrity of the ruins. The only modern interventions identified were a few planting holes from olive trees that had been uprooted approximately twenty years ago.

Most of these units lie just beneath a thin surface layer, making them highly accessible for study. Excavations revealed a collapse level containing stones and adobe, resting directly upon a pavement formed by leveling natural gravel or clay. Each unit is compact, occupying a modest footprint of 10 to 12 m².

Regarding the use of internal space in this type of house, it should be noted that they contain very few internal features. House 20 preserves little more than the façade and part of the partition wall it shares with House 21.

Due to its levelled state, it does not display any internal features worth noting. House 21, measuring 13.2 m², contains a circular structure 70 cm in diameter located at the back of the room, similar to the pillar-like features documented in Houses 1 and 3 of the same settlement.

House 22, measuring 13 m², contains a single combustion structure (hearth) located very close to the entrance of the room. House 23, with a surface area of 8.5 m², features three hearths arranged in a triangular layout at the center of the space, all with similar dimensions. House 24, measuring 6 m², has a single internal feature in the form of a pit situated very close to the entrance of the house.