Culture of Castros

The culture of Castros ( Cultura Castreja in Portuguese, Cultura Castrexa in Galician and Spanish Cultura castreña in and Asturien) is an expression used in Archéologie to indicate the culture of the North-West of the Iberian peninsula (area which corresponds roughly to the Portugal, with the Galicia and the Asturies) for one period which goes from the end of the Bronze Age (IXe front century J. - C.) until the Ier century a. J. - C. the most notable characteristic of this culture, they are the strengthened villages and the hill strong , known under the name of Castros (of the Latin castrum : castle). The geographical area of these villages extends from the river Cares in the east and until the Douro in the south.

The area which borders the river Ave in the central zone of this culture has largest castros , known under the names of Citânias or Cividades (of Latin civitas : city), because of their quasi-urban structure: Citânia de Sanfins, Citânia de Briteiros, Cividade de Bagunte, and Cividade de Terroso.

History

The culture of Castros started to develop during the final Bronze Age like the result of a strong cultural influence on the indigenous populations, from Central Europe and from the Atlantic and Mediterranean areas. During the time of formation which followed (until the Ve front century J. - C.) the Castros extended from the south towards north and the littoral towards the interior of the Iberian peninsula. This culture continued its extension and its development during two centuries, until the influence of the Roman République starts to be felt in the middle of the cultural surface of the Castros , during the IIe front century J. - C. the culture undergoes some transformations during the Roman conquest and the formation of the Roman province of Galicia, in the center of the zone, until its final disappearance with the IVe century a. J. - C.

Economy

The economy of the Castros is based on various kinds of agricultures. This important production is in particular made up of cereals like the Blé and the Orge and also of the vegetables like the beans and the turnips. Various fruits, like the sweet chestnuts, are also collected. Animals, cows, horses, sheep and pigs are the object of breeding and others, like the stag, are driven out. Fish, like hake, and of the shells are current. Mining and the metallurgy constitute a share of the economy. Gold, Iron, Copper, tin, and Plomb is the ores most usually extracted. These metals are refined and molten to manufacture various tools. The Céramique is also practiced in the area. The jewelry of the Castros has its roots in the Bronze Age and will be gradually influenced by the cultures of Central Europe and the Mediterranean. The parts most characteristic of this jewelry are the bracelets and the earrings. The Sculpture is more usually practiced in the south and will increase during the Roman occupation.

Their weapons are mainly swords or daggers.

Religion

The religious Pantheon is important if one judges some according to the inscriptions of Roman epoch and Astures and comprises without any doubt a Culte and ceremonies the purpose of which is to harmonize the population with the forces of nature. The funerary rites are for the majority unknown, except for the Cividade de Terroso , where the cremation is of use.

Examples

Protohistoire ~ Age of iron
Celtic ~ Celtic histories ~ Celtibères
Castro ~ Oppidum

References

e-Castrexo: Galician-novel & Hillfort Cultures