Multivariate study and proportion study for classification and dating of Islamic Al-Andalus' minarets: A first approach

In this paper, we aim to continue the dimension studies of the Al-Andalus minarets that were conducted by Félix Hernández and Basilio Pavón between 1930 and 1975. Through the use of statistical methods (multivariate analysis, discriminant function analysis, neural analysis) and through the study of minarets' dimensions, we have obtained important relations and proportions from an archaeological point of view and within the context of the architecture of the old Islamic minarets in Al-Andalus. Our research is based on the prediction and classification of minarets according to their dimensions and their inner disposition; the results obtained have been highly successful, enabling archaeologist to date and/or virtually reconstruct the minarets knowing just a few of their dimensions. These dimensions are obtained during any archaeological intervention or extracted from original documentation written by scribes and travellers. Furthermore, we have found one of the first evidences of the search of the efficiency in the Islamic constructions and their correlation with political and warfare changes.