Archaeological Heritage
Archaeological Heritage of Tapia de Casariego
Tapia de Casariego is a treasure trove of archaeological heritage, offering a fascinating glimpse into the ancient history of the region. From hillfort settlements to remnants of Roman mining, Tapia’s rich archaeological legacy invites visitors to explore and uncover its past.
Hillforts
Hillforts of Tapia de Casariego
Tapia de Casariego is home to eleven castro settlements — remnants of the ancient cultures that once inhabited the region. These archaeological sites are scattered along both the coastline and inland areas of the municipality, offering a comprehensive glimpse into the legacy of the Castrean culture in this part of Asturias.
Hillfort Culture and Society
The hillfort culture encompasses the cultural, economic, and social expressions of the communities in the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula from the 8th century BCE to the 2nd century CE.
Around the end of the Bronze Age, local populations began settling in fortified villages known as castros, often located in naturally defensible spots such as promontories or coastal peninsulas. The oldest known site in Asturias is El Picón de La Coroza, founded around the 8th century BCE. These castros remained inhabited throughout the Iron Age and partially into the Roman period, with most being abandoned after the 2nd century CE.
More than 400 castros are known in Asturias, including at least eleven within the municipality of Tapia de Casariego—such as El Castelo de Calambre. These settlements featured strong natural and man-made defenses, including moats and stone walls. The houses were built to adapt to the terrain and varied in size.
Hillfort society was based on extended families and clans, with no rigid social stratification. Women played a vital role in agriculture, while men managed movable property. Although no clear necropolises have been found, it is believed that funerary practices may have included exposure of bodies to the elements or cremation.
The castros were also linked to mining, especially for copper and gold, though most of them were founded before the Roman introduction of large-scale mining. Metallurgy and trade played an important role as well, with maritime exchanges bringing in products and influences from other cultures.
Agriculture and livestock were key to the hillfort economy, with cereal cultivation and cattle breeding forming the base. Castreña pottery—mostly utilitarian for storage and cooking—underwent a notable transformation during the Roman period, which introduced new ceramic types and luxury goods. As the castros were gradually abandoned, the archaeological record focuses on material remains, especially ceramics, showing a shift toward more refined products under Roman influence.
Inland
Hillforts
El Picón Hillfort
Las Coronas Hillfort
Castrovaselle Hillfort
Pereira Hillforts
El Corcovón Hillfort
MORE
INFORMATION
Roman Gold
Mining in Salave
Although gold was already being extracted during the hillfort (castreña) era, it was after the Roman conquest (1st–3rd centuries CE) that mining activity expanded significantly across the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula.
In western Asturias, there are three major gold belts—Oscos, Narcea, and Navelgas—linked to a series of deep geological faults. Through these faults, magma rose from the Earth’s interior, causing the mineralization of gold and other metals. This is how the gold in Salave was formed, part of the Oscos gold belt.
To extract the gold, the Romans used a technique known as ruina montium—literally, “the collapse of mountains.” This method involved demolishing land using the pressure of water channeled through purpose-built canals and tunnels. The water-capture canal system at Salave alone extended nearly 20 kilometers from the Porcía River. The removal of vast amounts of earth also created a depression over 30 meters deep in the area.
It’s estimated that around 200 people worked in this mine, most of them free inhabitants from nearby hillforts. Soldiers and administrative officials were in charge of mining logistics and engineering.
