Libia, Pre-Roman settlement near Herramélluri, La Rioja, Spain.
Libia was an ancient settlement founded by the Berones that stretched across several sectors in what is now Herramélluri in La Rioja. The remains are distributed across different areas and reveal how people lived and worked here over several centuries.
The Berones built this settlement in the 9th century BC in this hilly region. Rome conquered the territory in the 2nd century BC and incorporated it into its expanding empire in Hispania.
The Venus of Herramélluri, a bronze statuette found during digs, reflects the spiritual beliefs of the ancient inhabitants who lived here. This figure offers a window into what mattered to them and how they understood their world.
The site sits in the hills north of town and is accessible by local roads. The remains are scattered across private properties, so it is wise to gather local information before visiting or to join a guided tour.
Roman columns and stones from the ancient period remain visible in the walls of houses throughout the village, where residents incorporated them into their buildings over time. This reuse shows how ancient materials gradually blended into everyday village life after Rome arrived.
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