The Spanish Ibero settled in the southern and eastern sections of what is now Spain, from which the entire peninsula got its name. As the Celtic peoples moved into Spain between the 8th and 6th centuries BC, they left the indigenous Bronze Age Iberian culture intact. The name Ibero applied to all tribes that settled by the 5th century BC between the Iberus River and the Huelva River. The most important of the Iberian tribes were the Bastetani, who occupied the Almeria and mountainous Granada regions. To the west of the Bastetani were the Turdetani who were the regions most powerful. The Turdetani tribes were located around the Guadalquivir River valley and were greatly influenced by the Greeks in the Emporion and Alicante regions, as were most of the tribes within the northeast region . Towards the southeast greater influence was found from the Malaca, Sexi, and Abdera, colonies which were Phonecian, at one time. Much of the Iberian culture was grouped around independent city-states, in the south around monarchies. It was in the southern region, near Seville, that it is believed the treasure of El Carambolo was found, the ruler of the Turdetani. Things remained as they were until the Iberian’s incorporation into the Roman Empire.
Much of daily life consisted of agricultural work under which the region flourished. Much of the eastern region cultivated grapes and olives to supplement the economy. By 440 BC, iron working had been brought to the region by the Phoenicians, as iron was readily available. This undoubtedly forged new trades such as blacksmithing, all of which were performed in regional centers dedicated to specific crafts. Silver mining within the Guadalquivir River valley became an integral part of Iberian society. Silver was very abundant within the region and the people there took full advantage.
Iberian language consisted of a Phonecian-influenced alphabet in the southwest by 650 BC, and a Greek-based alphabet in the southeast by 425 BC. Both of these remained until the conquest of the region by the Roman Empire.
Though this page has been carefully researched, the author does not claim expertise on Iberian culture.
Please send questions, comments, and corrections to emuseum@mnsu.edu and include the URL of this page.
References
Weiss, Mark L. and Mann, Alan E. (1978). Human Biology and Behavior: an Anthropological Perspective. Boston, Little, Brown and Company.
“Iberian.” Encyclopedia Britannica. http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9041884
“Spain.” Encyclopedia Britannica. http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-214578
“History.” (25 Feb. 2001) http://www.red2000.com/spain/primer/hist.html
http://www.sas.upenn.edu/anthro/faculty/profiles/mann.html, April 30, 2001.
http://www.advance.upenn.edu/courses/anth003/mann.shtml, April 30, 2001.
http://www.sas.upenn.edu/~jmonge/, April 30, 2001.
http://www.sas.upenn.edu/~jmonge/pix.html, April 30, 2001.
By Katie Fish