Santa Comba de Bande (Orense). Arquitectura y documentación escrita

Abstract

The application of the stratigraphic method to the study of architecture implies, in more than a few cases, arguing against the traditional ideas in place in each case. Santa Comba de Bande is one example of this. The uncritical reading of a document from the nearby monastery of Celanova was first used to sketch an idea of the origin and evolution of the temple that has profoundly marked the various approaches to the building during more than a century of research. The results from the analysis of facings show a series of contradictions between the contents of the document and material reality, which makes it necessary to relativize the value of the document in question as a source of reliable information, while also showing the dangers involved in working from aprioristic principles in archaeological interpretation.