Contemporaneity of an ancient network of watermills in the southern Iberian Peninsula: reflections on its values, territory, and infrastructural role

Abstract

This article examines the historical network of watermills in the Sierra de Cádiz region (Spain) as a form of vernacular rural architecture with heritage, territorial, and cultural implications. The research identified and documented 85 mills, 61 of which had been recorded in 18th-century historical sources and were most likely introduced with the first Muslim settlements established in the region from the eighth century onwards. The methodology combines documentary and cartographic research, architectural surveying, and the development of the state of the art, revealing how these minor architectures have acted as active nodes in shaping the territory, management of water resources, and construction of hydraulic and communication networks. The findings of this article support the recognition of the contemporary value of these structures as cultural and territorial infrastructure linked to the rural landscape and to the collective memory of local communities. In conclusion, the findings advance a critical perspective that interprets watermills not only as remnants of the past but also as potential catalysts for new relationships between heritage, landscape, and rural society.