The Vettones' stone citadel: a hidden time capsule in Spanish hills

Mesa de Miranda, an ancient Celtic hillfort, is strategically located on a plateau overlooking lush meadows. This place, open to the public, offers a journey back in time to the days of the Vettones, a tribe that once called this fortified settlement home. Built between the 5th and 1st century BC, Mesa de Miranda was surrounded by a 2,832-meter wall made of large stones, creating an impregnable stronghold. The reasons for its construction remain unknown, but it is believed to have served as a refuge in times of adversity.

Mesa de Miranda consists of three enclosures, each with its unique shape and purpose, connected by gates flanked by towers. A third enclosure is believed to have been used as a livestock pen. South of the walls lies the necropolis named ‘La Osera’, where 2,230 graves were discovered, each marked by a stone stele. These steles may have been used for astronomic events based on solstices and Celtic religious festivals. Today, Mesa de Miranda attracts tourists and historians alike, offering a rare glimpse into the past lives of the Vettones. Standing upon its walls, it's easy to imagine the importance it held for the Celts who once called it home.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons