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History & Archaeology
Northern Spain has a storied past. The historical period here begins with the arrival of the Roman empire over 2,000 years ago. Even beyond, information gleaned from the rich archaeological sites of the area reconstructs what happened going back over a million years or more of prehistory. Get the best and most from our past on your custom private escorted Northern Spain tour with us.
history /ˈhist(ə)rē/
The study of the past, particularly in human affairs from a continuous, typically chronological, record of important events.
The Roman Empire eventually conquered all of the Iberian peninsula by the year 19 B.C.E. Since that time the area has seen many more foregin invasions by Germanic tribes, the Islamic Moors and other European nations. From warring kingdoms to colonial splendor though a civil war within the last hundred years and onto European statehood, the past literally speaks volumes. Our historic cities, architecture and monuments testify to this fact.
archaeology /ˌärkēˈäləjē/
The study of human history and prehistory through the excavation of sites and the analysis of artifacts and other physical remains.
Archaeology deciphers the enigmas of unrecorded history for us. In Northern Spain that begins with the first European species of hominids, their evolution and some of the world's oldest expressions of art. Archaeological remains from the Paleolithic, Neolithic, Bronze Age and Iron Age periods and beyond have yielded important finds helping to reconstruct a distant past that many times escapes us.
Do you relive the past when you visit historic and archaeological sites? Take a step back in time on your private, escorted Northern Spain tour with us. Your Chief Experience Officer, Charles, will custom design your tour, guided by your interests and tailor an experience that will exceed your expectations. A Northern Spain history tour or a Northern Spain archaeology tour can be a focus for your custom tour. My tour area covers traditional Northern Spain, including the regions of Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria, Euskadi (Basque Country), Navarra, La Rioja and northern Castilla & Leon (Leon, Palencia and Burgos).
Northern Spain History & Archaeology on the Net
Between two worlds: Cova Eirós and the Middle-Upper Palaeolithic transition in NW Iberia
Iberia, a natural cul-de-sac peninsula, plays a major role in the study of the Neanderthals demise and its eventual relationship with the spread of Anatomically Modern Humans (AMH) in Europe. The site of Cova Eirós (Galicia, Spain), located in NW Iberia, contains Middle and Upper Palaeolithic levels, based on the cultural remains recovered at the site.
Eleven must-watch films about the Spanish Civil War
Spain is still struggling to come to terms with the 1936-1939 conflict that divided society and left scars that are still felt more than 80 years later. And cinema is still trying to make sense of it.
The incursions of the Norsemen into what is now Spain and Portugal have been the focus of new research on this largely forgotten Viking history. Archaeologists have discovered the anchors of Viking longboats in Galicia washed ashore during a storm near what appears to be a longphort or Viking encampment. But most of what we know about the Viking raids comes from accounts written mainly by Arab historians, who referred to the Scandinavian interlopers as majūs (مَجوس) meaning “heathen or worshipper of many gods”
Medieval Spain: Not just plagues, famine, torture: historians try to set the record straight on the Middle Ages
Over 70 Spanish scholars have signed a manifesto underscoring the positive aspects of a period spanning nearly 1,000 years, including advances in law and politics
Historic Celtic Sites on a Trip Through Northern Spain
To many, Spain embodies the tap of a flamenco dancer’s heel; patio tables teeming with tapas; sun-drenched beaches and long, languid siestas. You’ll find these throughout the country, to be sure, and especially in the south—but Northern Spain might take you by surprise. With its lush pastures, rolling hills, and misty coastlines, it’s easy to mistake Spain’s northern landscapes for the green-mantled British Isles. But these regions share more than just scenery and a similar climate. Both Spain and the UK are home to cultural remnants from the long-romanticized and elusive Celtic peoples. While the UK may be well known for its Celtic origins, the influence on Spain is magical in its mystery, each site a secret stored under the tongue for centuries.