When we talk about older cities in Spain, The first names that usually come to mind are Cadiz the Cartagena. Both have a long historical tradition, with clear links to Roman empire and cultures such as Phoenicia or Carthaginas. However, recent archaeological studies place the origin of the oldest city in the country in a much less expected place.
Cádiz and Cartagena: illustrious but more recent
It is true that Cádiz – founded by the Phoenicians around 1100 a.C.– and Cartagena – established by the Carthaginians in the century III in – They have ancient stories and their traces are well present in the current Spanish culture. The difference between these nuclei lies in the antiquity of human occupation and in the historical continuity of settlements.
However, archaeological findings prove that the oldest city in Spain is in an unexpected place: The municipality of Linares, in the province of Jaén. On the outskirts it is located Cástuloand Iberian settlement that, according to the evidences found by the researchers, it was inhabited from the IV Millennium BC. This chronology makes the Cástulo older inhabited nucleus with documented historical continuity in Spanish territory.
Cástulo Archaeological Site in Linares (Jaén)
Today, the Cástulo Archaeological Set It is one of the most fascinating deposits of the Iberian Peninsula. His conservation and quality of his findings have made him a reference for studies on the ancient history of Spain. The discovery of Love mosaican exceptional Roman work in an almost intact state, has helped place again Linares on the map of national history.
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This type of findings forces to rethink what we take for granted about The origin of cities in Spain. Far from the most popular topics and coastal routes, the oldest city in the country is inland, where The river, mineral and fertile land They attracted the first organized human communities.
