Prehistory and pre-Roman peoples Spain

pre-roman map of iberian peninsula



celtic castro in galicia

archaeological research @ atapuerca indicates iberian peninsula populated hominids 1.2 million years ago. in atapuerca fossils have been found of earliest known hominins in europe, homo antecessor. modern humans first arrived in iberia, north on foot, 35,000 years ago. best known artefacts of these prehistoric human settlements famous paintings in altamira cave of cantabria in northern iberia, created 35,600 13,500 bce cro-magnon. archaeological , genetic evidence suggests iberian peninsula acted 1 of several major refugia northern europe repopulated following end of last ice age.

the largest groups inhabiting iberian peninsula before roman conquest iberians , celts. iberians inhabited mediterranean side of peninsula, northeast southeast. celts inhabited of inner , atlantic sides of peninsula, northwest southwest. basques occupied western area of pyrenees mountain range , adjacent areas, phoenician-influenced tartessians culture flourished in southwest , lusitanians , vettones occupied areas in central west. number of cities founded along coast phoenicians, , trading outposts , colonies established greeks in east. eventually, phoenician-carthaginians expanded inland towards meseta, due bellicose inland tribes carthaginians got settled in coasts of iberian peninsula.