PREHISTORY IN SPAIN.

Paleolithic (800.000-5.000  B.C.)

The first human beigns appeared in the Iberian Peninsula 800.000 years ago during the Lower Palaeolithic Period). They have been found in the Atapuerca site (Burgos). The remains belonged to an erectus-type human species, called Homo Antecesssor. They were:

1. Hunter-gatherers and made stone tools.
2. Practised cannibalism.

Homo Antecessor.

During the Upper Palaeolithic Period, the Peninsula was inhabited by Neanderthals and Homo Sapiens. The Homo Sapiens left us important examples of cave painting. We can distinguish two varieties:

• Cantabrian area (Altamira) with two main characteristics:

1. Appeared inside caves.
2. Represented animals in a naturalistic manner.

   

   Bison, Altamira Cave

   
   

• Eastern Spain (Cogull, Valltorta). Two characteristics:
  

1. Located in rock shelters.
2. Represented schematic human beigns involved in scenes of hunting war, and rituals.

Neolithic (5.000 b. c.-2.500 b.c.)

• The Neolithic reached the Iberian Peninsula through two routes:

1. the Mediterranean
2. the North of Africa.

• The most important cultures appeared in Catalonia and Andalucia, and the main art form was Cardium pottery.

 Copper, Bronze and Iron ages.

Metalworking was introduced in the Iberian Peninsula from the Eastern Mediterranean by people looking for metal. We can distinguish three stages:

• Copper age (2.500-2.000 b.c.). The most important culture was "Los Millares" (Almeria) with two characteristics:

1. Apparition of walled settlements.
2. Megalithic architecture: dolmens and large corridor tombs, called "caves".

•  Bronze Age (2.000 b.c.-1.000 b.c.). The most important cultures were:

1. El Argar extended from Almeria to Granada and characterised by individuals burials in earthenware vessels.
   
2. Balearic islands characterised by its megalithic constructions: taulas, talaiot (use as defensive watchtower) and naveta (collective tomb). 

   

   Taula.

Talaiot.

Naveta.

• Iron Age (1.000-Roman colonization). Iron was introduced by:

1.  the Celtic people who entered through the Pyrenees
2. Phoenic and Greek colonists.