The "Rock of Gibraltar", known in Arabic as the Jabal al-Tariq, is a monolithic limestone promontory located in the British territory of Gibraltar, near the southwestern tip of Europe on the Iberian Peninsula, and near the entrance to the Mediterranean.
Evidence of Neanderthal habitation in Gibraltar from around 50,000 years ago has been discovered at Gorham's Cave. The caves of Gibraltar continued to be used by Homo sapiens after the final extinction of the Neanderthals.
Numerous potsherds dating from the Neolithic period have been found in Gibraltar's caves, mostly of types typical of the Almerian culture found elsewhere in Andalusia, especially around the town of Almería, from which it takes its name. There is little evidence of habitation in the Bronze Age when people had largely stopped living in caves.
circa 711 CE
Moorish Castle
The Moorish Castle is the name given to a medieval fortification in Gibraltar (Jabal al-Tariq) comprising various buildings, gates, and fortified walls, with the dominant features being the Tower of Homage and the Gate House. Tariq is said to have built initial fortifications (completed circa 742 CE) on the site to secure his communications with Africa. The Tower of Homage is clearly visible to all visitors to Gibraltar; not only because of its striking construction, but also because of its dominant and strategic position. Although sometimes compared to the nearby alcazars in Spain, the Moorish Castle in Gibraltar was constructed by the Marinid dynasty, making it unique in the Iberian Peninsula.
circa 711 CE
Moorish Gatehouse
The Moorish Gatehouse, situated within the Qasbah (fortified citadel) of the Moorish Castle complex on the Rock of Gibraltar, is the only surviving medieval gatehouse in the territory. Originally constructed as a rectangular defensive entrance, it is believed to date back to the late 14th century, specifically the reign of Sultan Muhammad V of Granada. Archaeological evidence, including stratigraphic layers of 14th-century CE ceramics, supports this later construction date, likely as a second entrance (Bab al-Fath or "Gate of Victory") added after the 1333 CE reconquest of the Rock to bolster the citadel’s southern defenses.
Architecturally, the gatehouse features a distinct cupola roof, a later modification added during the British period when the structure was repurposed as a powder magazine. This functional adaptation ensured the building's preservation while many surrounding medieval structures fell into ruin. Today, the gatehouse remains a primary element of the broader fortification system that once extended from the Upper Rock to the sea, reflecting the Marinid and Nasrid architectural influences that characterize Gibraltar's medieval Islamic heritage.
Signup for our monthly newsletter / online magazine.
No spam, we promise.
The Madain Project is an online archive of Abrahamic History and Archaeology.
Abrahamic History & Archaeology is the study of history and archaeology with respect to the three Abrahamic Faiths without considering the religious and theological aspects. The goal of Abrahamic History is to understand how and why the religious doctrines and behaviours have evlovled and changed over time. Searching for patterns in the evolution of significant cultural events such as the development of farming, the emergence of cities, or the collapse of major civilizations for clues of why and how these have influenced the three major Abrahamic religions.
Cloud Drive -
About -
Help -
Privacy Policy -
Contact
Madain Project: Encyclopedia of Abrahamic History & Archaeology.
Copyright MadainProject 2017 - 2025.
