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The dry-stone structures which functioned as shelters and refuges for people, and animals and used to store tools, harvest and food have a different nomenclature according to the area of Mallorca they are located in.
The smaller constructions which are integrated in a retaining wall are called aixoplucs, refrescadors, covaranys
or covatxes. They were a temporary shelter in bad weather, to hide agricultural tools and food and to keep or hitch
horses and other cattle.
Shelters are larger and were used both by people and animals as temporary or permanent shelters. Their traditional names have to
do mainly with their function (forest worker shelter, charcoal shelter, cart shelter, pig shelter, etc). There is only one nomenclature
referring to a specific construction feature: barraca de curucull or caperutxa (topped shelter) because of its false dome ceiling.
There is evidence of dry-stone shelters dating back to the 14th century and they have been home for forest workers, charcoal makers, limestone workers, seaweed collectors, wood collectors, quarrymen, woodsmen, fishermen, coastguards, snow workers and also livestock.
The materials within reach were put to use to build the shelters. Materials such as stone and logs, branches from forest trees
(oak, poplar, pine, savine, wild olive, etc), fruit trees (almond, carob, olive, etc), leaves and stalks (giant reed, cane, palm, etc), soil
and Arab tiles.
Most shelters have only one entry and no windows. Inside there are small pantries, troughs, shelves, fermenting stones, etc.
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