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History of Extremadura | Prehistoric | Roman | Middle Ages | Conquistadors | Modern History | Religious History | Changing Times
Cave Dwellers
The earliest evidence of human presence in Extremadura is found at the pre-historic cave of Maltravieso, containing paintings dated by paleontologists at approximately 30,000 B.C. Depicted in these paintings are hands missing the little finger, leading some to link this to some sort of magical religious rite.
Prehistoric Tribes
Before the arrival of the Romans, Extremadura was inhabited by four principal tribes: from the Tagus River northward, the Vetonians; from the southern border to the Guadiana River, the Turdetanians; in the central zone, the Lusitanians; and in the Western strip (near present-day Badajoz), the Celts.
Vetonians
The most important cities of the Vetonians were Lancia (in the western part of Sierra de Gata), Augustóbriga (Talavera la Vieja), Capera (Cáparra), Laconimurgi (Puebla de Alcocer), Lacimurgi (Navalvillar de Pela), Lama, Turgalium (Trujillo), and Alea.
Celts
The principal Celtic cities were Contosolia (Magacela), Miróbriga (Capilla), Perceiana (Villafranca de los Barros), Contributa (Fuente de Cantos), Curiga (Monesterio), Nertóbriga (Fregenal de la Sierra) and Segada.
Lusitanians
The lusitanians cities were Cauria (Coria), Rusticana (Galisteo), Turmogum (Garrovillas), Norba (Cáceres), Sacallus (Aliseda), Valentia (Valencia de Alcántara), Budua (Bótoa) and Lavares (Talavera la Real). The cities actually founded by the Romans were Emérita (Mérida), Metellinum (Medellín), and Regina (Reina).
Phoenicians
Among numerous megalithic constructions and pre-historic artifacts, particularly interesting is a stone found in Siruela, engraved with cuneiform characters which have been identified as related to the Phoenecian alphabet. Also found in Robledillo de Gata was an idol of stone bearing an image with a human hand and a deer’s head and body. During the Bronze Age, the influence of the Phoenician society can be seen in numerous pieces of jewelry found near Aliseda, Serradilla, and various other parts of Extremadura. Near Medellín, there are ruins of a Phoenician castro, or settlement. where numerous artifacts, as well as a necropolis, or ancient burial site, have been found. Dating from the Iron Age there are other castros generally built on top of hills or high plains. The inhabitants of Extremadura during this time seem to have lived primarily from raising livestock, mostly cattle, goats, sheep and pigs. Land apparently belonged jointly to tribal groups, with the women responsible for the cultivation of crops such as wheat, olives, and grapes. The men dedicated their time to hunting and to defending their people against attacks. There appears to have been some mining as well as some commerical interchange with the Phoenicians. There have also been found some artifacts of Carthaginian and of Greek origin, although not significant enough to lead one to conclude these colonizers made it to Extremadura. From this period, as well, there is evidence of much religious activity, denoted by cave paintings, magical rites, and special burial ceremonies.