The Iberian Period

The Iberian Period

Archaeological surveys conducted in the municipality have resulted in the location of several strongholds Iberian population, close to the river Sella River and located on small promontories, features all very consistent with the pattern of settlement of this culture.

With the Iberian culture, shaping the environment of the previous stages and the structuring of society will change. For the first time, we can talk about real cities that political and economic control a territory where they settle other towns dependent on those, preferably a farm. This territory can occur even defended by watchtowers, placed in strategic points to ensure the monitoring of borders.

Indeed, we know of important Iberian nuclei in the Marina Baixa, as in the Cala Tossal (Finestrat-Benidorm), Altea, Calpe or in the Vila Joiosa, which function as the backbone of a more comprehensive and hierarchical.

Probably the physical evidence found in the type of match Orxeta settlements inserts under the influence of a major oppidum, as may well be the La Vila Joiosa devoted primarily to agricultural activities and collect similar terms of proximity to water , productive land and natural means of communication, as well as a geo-strategic position that allows excellent control of the territory and easy defense.