The red and white walls of La Monravana

La Monravana is an Iberian settlement located about 10 km northwest of Liria in Valencia. It belongs to a category of Edetan settlements with an agro-pastoral economic base, functioning as a source of supplies for the capital.

The site covers between 6,000 and 8,000 square meters and preserves its entire walled enclosure. The wall follows a simple model used by the Iberians, serving simultaneously as the rear wall of the houses. Inside, the houses are joined to one another and open onto streets that run longitudinally through the settlement. The adobe walls were built on stone bases, and both were whitewashed and painted red and white. The floors were trampled or paved.

On the southern side, joined to the wall, five long structures were found. These were likely an industrial complex destined for food transformation, with areas for milling, wine presses, and pressing areas. These spaces are understood as annexes of the domestic sector. In the houses of the southern sector, two distinct rooms are clearly visible.

Archaeological excavations dating back to 1958 have recovered materials from the 5th century BC until the settlement's abandonment in the mid-2nd century BC. Key findings include Iberian pottery similar to that found in Edeta, as well as some written texts. Notably, a sculpture of a bull was found, which is the only sample of Iberian sculpture found in the Campo de Turia. On the southern slope, two isolated pit graves with incineration urns were also discovered, featuring painted geometric decoration.

Today, the site is protected as a monument of cultural interest. The ruins of the red and white walls mark the location of this ancient settlement.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons