Toscanos, Phoenician archaeological site in Vélez-Málaga, Spain
Toscanos is a Phoenician settlement near the mouth of the Vélez River, close to Vélez-Málaga on the Mediterranean coast of Andalusia. Excavations have uncovered residential structures, streets, and sections of walls that together form the outline of an early coastal village.
The settlement was founded in the 8th century BC by Phoenician traders who established a series of posts along the southern coast of Spain. After roughly two centuries of use, the site was gradually abandoned.
The name Toscanos comes from the local farmland where the site was found, not from any ancient source. Walking through the stone foundations gives a sense of how a trading community organized its streets and living spaces.
The site is mostly open ground with exposed foundations, so sturdy shoes are a good idea for uneven terrain. The cooler months are better for a visit since there is little shade across most of the area.
An asteroid discovered in 1973 was named after this site, making it one of the few archaeological places linked to a celestial body. It is rare for an ancient settlement to carry its name into modern astronomy in this way.
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