Els Castellans

The Iberian settlement of Els Castellans is located on the municipal boundaries of Cretas and Calaceite.

The best way to reach the archaeological site is the path that starts from Cretas, approximately 7 km away, following the track that runs towards the gorge of Calapatá. The access path is signposted from the village except for its final stretch, which presents difficulties for vehicles.

Its occupation dates from the mid-6th century BC to the 2nd century BC. At the top of the hill there is a central street with houses built on either side, ending in a large semicircular bastion. This is a powerful defensive system complemented by two outer walls alternating with two ditches, and an entrance via a postern gate and stairs cut into the rock. Among the materials found during P. Bosch Gimpera's excavation, imported ceramics stand out.

To learn more about this settlement, you can visit the Centre for Iberian Language and Writing located in Cretas. At this centre you will find general information about the Iberians route in Bajo Aragón (Lower Aragon), the evolution of writing from its earliest forms, a sound gallery, Iberian epigraphy in Bajo Aragón and its supports (stelae, coins, ceramics), and a space dedicated to the Iberian settlement of Els Castellans with a model of its theoretical reconstruction.