Asturica Augusta, Hispania Tarraconensis – Part II

Continued From Asturica Augusta, Hispania Tarraconensis – Part I Continuing out through the northeast exit of the Jardín de La Sinagoga, and then north on Calle Padres Redentoristas, is the Domus del Mosaico del Oso y los Pájaros, the Domus of the Mosaic of the Bear and Birds. Located at Calle Padres Redentoristas 19, the…

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Asturica Augusta, Hispania Tarraconensis – Part I

Most Recent Visit: July 2022 Located today among the modern city of Astorga, in the province of León in northeastern Spain, was once the Roman settlement of Asturica Augusta. The area of the settlement was inhabited by the Amaci, a Celtic population that was incorporated into the tribal confederation of the Astures at some point…

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Numantia, Hispania Tarraconensis – Part II

Continued From Numantia, Hispania Tarraconensis – Part I While I may have found the actual archaeological site of Numantia a little disappointing, one thing that was not disappointing about my Numantia experience was, located about 7 kilometers to the northeast, about a kilometer northeast of the town of Reniblas. Located there are the vestiges of…

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Numantia, Hispania Tarraconensis – Part I

The ancient settlement of Numantia is today located on a hill, the Cerro de la Muela, just to the south of the town of Garray in northern Spain. Habitation on the hill dates back to at least the latter Neolithic periods with more or less consistent occupation through the Chalcolithic and Iron Age. The settlement…

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Castra Legionis, Hispania Tarraconensis – Part II

Continued From Casta Legionis, Hispania Tarraconensis Part I Heading back out to the street in front of the walls, Calle Ruiz de Salazar runs for about 150 meters north before ending in Plaza San Isidoro outlet. Just beyond that is an excavated area of one of the towers of the 3rd-4th century walls of Castra…

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Castra Legionis, Hispania Tarraconensis – Part I

Most Recent Visit: July 2022 Located today among the city of León, in the northwestern Spanish region of Castile and León, are the remains of the Roman military fort of Castra Legionis, sometimes also referred to as just Legio. The modern city of León derives its name from Castra Legionis, more specifically the second half…

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Augusta Bilbilis, Hispania Tarraconensis – Part II

Continued From Augusta Bilbilis Part I The forum of Augusta Bilbilis was inaugurated in 27 CE. It underwent renovations in the Flavian and Antonine periods. Like the theater, the forum too seems to have seen a decline in use during the 3rd century CE. The open plaza of the forum is supported on an artificial…

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Augusta Bilbilis, Hispania Tarraconensis – Part I

Most Recent Visit: July 2022 Perched on a hill overlooking the plain of the Salo (the modern Jalón River) an important tributary of the Iber (the modern Ebro) near the junction with the Birbilis (Jiloca River), about 100 meters above the plain, sits the remains of Augusta Bilbilis. Prior to the arrival of the Romans,…

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Hispania Tarraconensis and Lusitania – 2016

Spain has always held a bit of a special place in my consciousness. It was the first country that I visited on my first trip to Europe. It was that trip, and in part my experiences in Spain, that helped push me towards Archaeology at time when I was still pursuing a degree in another…

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Barcino, Hispania Tarraconensis

Most Recent Visit: June 2016 The site of modern day Barcelona seems to have been occupied well before the arrival of the Romans. According to legend, a city was founded on the location by Hercules. Another legend places the name Barcino as being derived from the Carthaginian Barcid family and was founded by Hamilcar Barca….

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