Castro culture

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Distribution area of ​​the Castro culture

Castrokultur ( Portuguese : Cultura Castreja , Galician : Cultura Castrexa , Spanish : Cultura Castreña ) is a comprehensive archaeological name for Iron Age cultures on the northwestern Iberian Peninsula , which began at the end of the Bronze Age ( 1st millennium BC ) until the 1st. Century BC Chr. Passed. In the meantime there has been criticism of this concept.

features

Castro de Coaña, Asturias , Spain

The characteristic and name-giving feature of these cultures were settlements located on hills and fortified with a wall, which are known as Castros (from Latin castrum ) or Citânias (Portuguese for a fortified place to live). Places of this type can be found in an area that extends to the Río Cares in the east and the Douro in the south . Further features that characterize the distribution area of ​​the Castro culture include: a. peculiar life-size warrior figures as well as standing and seated male and female statues of gods (Sendim, Xinco de Limia), swastika- like vortex wheels as decorative elements (Santa Terga), Omphaloi , Pedra Formosas and torques .

The Ave region , which lies in the center of the distribution area of ​​this culture, has larger castros, which are called Citânias or Cividades (from Latin civitas ); well-known examples are Citânia de Sanfins or Cividade de Terroso .

history

The Castro culture began to develop at the end of the Bronze Age due to the cultural influences of the Central European and Mediterranean cultures. In the subsequent period, which lasted until the 5th century BC. BC, the Castros spread from south to north and from the coast into the interior of the Iberian Peninsula. This expansion continued until the 2nd century BC. The influence of the Roman Empire became stronger. The final decline was sealed by the Roman conquest and the establishment of the province of Gallaecia . In the 4th century AD, the Castro culture had disappeared.

economy

The economy of the Castro culture was essentially based on agriculture , hunting and fishing .

The mining of gold , iron , copper , tin and lead also played an important role. The mostly inferior ores were refined by the Castro metallurgists and processed into tools, jewelry and other things.

Furthermore, ceramics and precious stone processing have been handed down.

The main weapons used were swords and daggers .

Examples of Castros

  • Castro de Baroña, Galicia

  • Castro de São Lourenço in Esposende , Portugal

  • Briteiros , Portugal

  • Cividade de Terroso tem mais near Póvoa de Varzim

  • Detail of the Castro of Troña, Pías, Ponteareas, Pontevedra

See also

literature

  • D. Brandherm: Castro culture . In: AM Wittke (ed.), Early history of the Mediterranean cultures. Historical-archaeological manual (= Der Neue Pauly Supplemente, Volume 10). JB Metzler, Stuttgart 2015, ISBN 978-3-476-02470-1 , pp. 154–157
  • CAF de Almeida: Cultura castreja: evolução e problemática, Arqueologia 8. 1983 pp. 70-74.
  • F. Calo Lourido: A plástica da Cultura Castrexa galaico-portuguesa. Vol. 1 and 2, 1994 A Coruña: Fundación Pedro Barrié de la Maza
  • T. Chapa Brunet: La escultura ibérica de Jaén en su contexto mediterráneo, Escultura ibérica, Jaén: Junta de Andalucía. 1990
  • I. Cobas Fernández, MP Prieto Martínez: Introducción a la cerámica prehistórica y protohistórica en Galicia. TAPA 17, 1999. Santiago de Compostela: Laboratorio de Arqueología y Formas Culturales, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela.

credentials

Web links