Els Vilars, Archaeological fortress in Arbeca, Spain
Els Vilars is an archaeological fortress in Arbeca with an oval shape spanning about 173 meters, surrounded by a defensive wall with semicircular towers positioned along its perimeter. Inside, visitors find remains of dwellings and a central water tank that supplied the community during periods of drought.
The Ilergete people built this fortification between the 8th and 4th centuries before Christ and occupied it continuously over many generations. The extended occupation shows that this location held strategic and economic importance for the surrounding region.
The settlement reveals how its inhabitants organized daily life and managed water in this dry region, with structures arranged around practical needs. The careful design of storage and collection systems shows a community that planned ahead to sustain itself through seasons of scarcity.
The site is easy to walk around on foot, with raised pathways that let you get close to the excavated remains and view them clearly. Visitors should wear sturdy shoes since the ground is uneven and there is little shade throughout the area.
The fortress included a moat system and sharpened stones embedded in the ground that created a double defense against intruders approaching either on foot or on horseback. These combined features show careful planning to keep all types of attackers away from the walls.
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