Archaeologists return to Phoenician city of Cerro del Villar

Cerro del Villar was a Phoenician city located in the mouth of the Guadalhorce river in southern Spain. Founded in the ninth century BC or eighth century BC, the site served as a settlement for the Phoenician civilization. It was officially declared a Bien de Interés Cultural on 9 June 1998.

The city remained active for several centuries before it was possibly abandoned in 584 BC. Following a long period of inactivity, archaeological work at the site was resumed in 2025. This marks the first time excavations have taken place since 2003.

Previous excavations at the site were directed by María Eugenia Aubet. The current work aims to explore the history of this archaeological site, which dates from the ninth century BC to the first century BC.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons