Arce-Mirapérez, Archaeological site near Miranda de Ebro, Spain
Arce-Mirapérez is an archaeological site of the ancient Autrigonian city of Deobriga, extending across approximately 26 hectares between the Ebro and Zadorra rivers. The site sits beneath agricultural land, though its location near an ancient river crossing provided strategic control over the region.
The settlement was a key center for the Autrigones, a Celtic Iberian group inhabiting this region before Roman conquest reshaped the territory. Systematic archaeological work between 2004 and 2006 mapped the exact location and size of this ancient city.
The name combines 'Deo', relating to divine elements, with 'briga', meaning fortress in ancient Celtic languages. This naming reflects how the settlement functioned as a fortified place of spiritual and defensive importance.
The site lies beneath active farmland, so archaeological remains are not visible on the surface, and visits must be experienced from outside the area. Access can be approached from the edges, though entering the fields depends on current agricultural use.
Two necropolises linked to the city were discovered in 1970, one near FEFASA houses and another in Vetrusa across the Álava territory. These finds reveal how the population extended across multiple locations.
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