Where Ibero farmers timed their harvests by the sunrise

You can stand where the Ibero people once calculated the start of their farming year. From this specific spot on the coast, the sun rises over the right slope of the island of Benidorm during the equinoxes in March and September. This was not just a scenic view - it was a functional calendar for the agricultural cycles of the surrounding land.

The sanctuary of La Malladeta dates back to the 4th century BC. It was likely dedicated to the Mother Goddess, Tanit, as archaeologists have recovered terracotta figures and perfume burners from the site. Around 100 BC, the area underwent a major renovation, resulting in a series of terraced rooms. Excavations have identified fourteen of these rooms on the east and west slopes, though much of the site remains to be excavated.

By 25 BC, the major rooms were abandoned. The site remained active in some form until about 80 AD, when the cult likely moved to a new forum in the nearby city of Allon. Today, the primary structure on the hilltop is a late 19th-century tower built by José María Esquerdo as a private studio.

Archaeologists and astronomers still use the site today. The Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands collaborates on archaeoastronomical observations here to better understand how these ancient people synchronized their lives with the movement of the heavens.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons