Asturias is part of "green Spain" because of its mild climate with adequate
rainfall for forests. The province is located on the Cantabrian Sea, on the north
coast of Spain. To the east is the province of Cantabria, formerly known as Santander;
to the west is Galicia.
Perhaps as far back as 100,000 years ago, Paleolithic humans of the Achelensian
culture lived in what is today Asturias, inhabiting the coastal regions and all
but the very highest mountain areas. This culture left behind stone tools for
cutting, striking, and scraping.
Later, in the Paleolithic Superior, some of the most magnificent cave paintings
were found in Asturias, in caves such as Tito Bustillo near Ribadesella. Exquisite
carvings of bone and rock have also been found.
From about 4500 BCE to 2000 BCE during the Neolithic period, a Megalithic culture
which built huge stone structures flourished in Asturias and many other locations
in Europe. These people left behind numerous menhirs, which are standing stones,
sometimes aligned in groups with astronomical significance. They may represent
the vertical dimension of the divine and the phallus. Dolmens are table-like structures
with upright stones supporting one or more flat rocks on top. The whole construction
was covered with earth. Some appear to have been used for burial of the dead.
It is possible that the dolmen represents the female principle. Dolmens in Asturias
were much smaller than those found in Brittany and other regions.
JoAnne at the entrance of
a stone Dolmen built by the
prehistoric Megalithic
culture.
Monte Areo, Asturias
June 2000
Stele
Bronze Age, c1200 BC
Galicia and Asturias share many cultural characteristics. Like much of northern
Spain, both were settled by Celtic peoples in the bronze age. Today, however,
these provinces retain more Celtic influences than other regions on the Iberian
peninsula. The ruins of Celtic hill-fort settlements, called "castros,"
are still visible throughout the region. The castros usually have earthen defensive
walls. Some sites, like the one at Gijón's Castro de Campa Torres, have
been excavated. Castro de Campa Torres also has a reconstructed Celtic round home
with thatched roof.
Art in front of a
reconstructed round Celtic
hut with thatched roof
Castro de Campa Torres,
Gijón, Asturias, Spain
June 2000
The influence of the Celts is still present: both provinces still have many
citizens with fair skin and blonde or red hair, The bagpipe, or gaita, is a popular
instrument in Celtic Spain and the folk tunes are very similar to those heard
in Ireland, Scotland, or Brittany.
The Romans also came to Spain. After conquering the Celts, the Romans sometimes,
as at Campa de Torres, built towns in the same locations the Celts had chosen.
Castro de Campa Torres,
site of Celtic & Roman settlements.
Gijón, Asturias, Spain
JoAnne in front of a
reconstructed Roman
home
Castro de Campa Torres
Gijón, Asturias, Spain
June 2000
Map of Asturias, Spain
Cities, neighboring provinces, and major geological features
Sorry, this page is still being written. More will appear later!
