The Celtic Encyclopedia

 

By Harry Mountain

 

 

Section IV

 

 

Chapters 29-31

 

 

Sites/Ogham/Museums

 

 

 

 

 

 

NAME         Ribeira

TYPE         hillfort

REGION       Galicia - A Coruna province at Ribeira

MAP REF      1 – D+

REMARKS      Behind the lookout at Ribeira are faint traces

  of a Celtic settlement.  The fantastic view makes the trip

  worth while.

 

 

NAME         Vigo

TYPE         Iron Age hillfort / sunken treasure

REGION       Galicia - Pontevedra province at Vigo

MAP REF      1 – D+

REMARKS      This was a Celtic center and is supposed to have

  sunken treasure.  Ruins of a Celtic hillfort are being

  excavated on the harbor side of the "Parque del Castro"

  below the walls of the Castillo de San Sebastian.

 

 

NAME         Numancia (Numantia)

TYPE         Iron Age hillfort

REGION       Soria - N of the town of Soria

MAP REF      1 – D+

REMARKS      The Celtic inhabitants of this hillfort near the

  headwaters of the Duero River held out against a Roman

  siege for 20 years.  Finally, rather than allow themselves

  to be subjected to Roman rule they committed mass suicide

  in the year BC 133.  The Romans destroyed the fort and then

  rebuilt a Roman site.  Excavation is continuing and the

  museum in Soria conveys the information and displays

  artifacts that have been uncovered.

 

 

NAME         Lake Sanabria Nature Park

TYPE         nature park

REGION       Zamora

MAP REF      1 – D+

REMARKS      The highland park covers an area of over 12,000

  acres (5000 ha) and gives a good example of what would be

  considered an ideal environment by the ancient Celts.  The

  area is protected by 3 mountain ranges and has over 40

  lagoons of clear fresh water, as well as the impressive

  waterfalls of the river Tera near its headwaters.

       There is an abundance of trees considered sacred to

  the Celts, including oak, chestnut, holly, yew, alder, ash

  and birch.  The nearby Reserve of the Sierra de la Culebra

  (160,000 acres or 66,000 ha) can help in recreating the

  image of ancient times with its population of wolves, wild

  boar, stags, roe deer, hares, quails and partridge.

 

 

NAME         San Pedro de la Nave

TYPE         Celtic carvings

REGION       Zamora -  miles (20 km) W of Zamora

MAP REF      1 – D+

REMARKS      The village, on the pilgrimage trail to Cabo

  Fisterra, has an AD 7th century church decorated with a

  mixture of carvings including spirals, birds and animals

  which show a Celtic influence.

 

 

 

 

SWITZERLAND

 

 

NAME         Hohensiedlung Burg

TYPE         hillfort (Bronze Age / Urnfield)

REMARKS      Finds at this hillfort included an antler cheek-

  piece with a carved horsehead on the end.

 

 

NAME         Baden

TYPE         hot springs

REGION       Aargau - on the Rhine

REMARKS      The nineteen sulphur springs are recommended for

  the treatment of rheumatism, gout, and lung ailments.  The

  water contains sodium, calcium chloride and sulphate.

 

 

NAME         Rheinfelden

TYPE         curative springs

REGION       Aargau - on the Rhine

REMARKS      The water from two springs have a high

  concentration of salt and are recommended for the treatment

  of rheumatism, gynaecological troubles, heart, circulation

  and metabolism.

 

 

 

return to   The Read Room