Map of Jiloca Area © Mark Wade

Muslim town of the Banu-Timlat, with a castle from at least 974. The nearby Torrecid tower is dated to the Cid's time, and has indeed yielded 11th Century pottery.

The original Muslim castle of Ateca was mentioned in 974 as belonging to the Banu- Timlat clan. The later castle of Torrecid, built in the Cid's time, played an important defensive role for the neighbors of Ateca. It was one of the castles mentioned in the vicious War of the Pedros in 1357. Ateca held out for two days against the troops of Pedro I of Castile, before falling to them in 1362. Most of the modern city was built in the 16th Century, although excavations at Torrecid have yielded 12th Century party in the kitchen.

• Book IV Chapter III:

  And on the morrow they passed Alfama, and leaving the Gorge below them they passed Bobierca, and Teca which is beyond it, and came against Alcocer.

• Book IV Chapter V:

  Much did this trouble the Moors of Teca, and it did not please those of Teruel, nor of Calatayud.

• Book IV Chapter V:

  And they sent to the King of Valencia to tell him that one who was called Ruydiez the Cid, whom King Don Alfonso had banished, was come into their country, and had taken Alcocer; and if a stop were not put to him, the King might look upon Teca and Teruel and Calatayud as lost, for nothing could stand against him, and he had plundered the whole country, along the Salon on the one side, and the Siloca on the other.

• Book IV Chapter XII:

  And King Fariz and the Moors of Techa, and of Teruel, and of Calatayud, were right glad of this, and the covenant was put in writing, and they sent him the three thousand marks.