ARCHIVED - 21st and 22nd January guided visits to the La Bastida Argaric site in Totana

The Argaric complex in Totana dates from 4,000 years ago

The La Bastida Argaric site in Totana is open at the weekends for those who would like to visit this impressive archaeological complex. The site can only be visited in the company of a guide and there are two tours at 10am and 12 midday.

This is a tantalising site for archaeologists as just 15% of the total surface area covered by this Bronze Age settlement has been excavated to date, the remainder of what would once have been home to nearly 1,000 people still buried beneath three and a half thousand years of soil and vegetation.

The Argaric culture is one of the great mysteries of Bronze Age Europe and archaeologists working at the site admit that the more they learn about this intriguing culture, the more questions they have.

The site was first discovered back in 1869 and although civil engineer Rogelio de Inchaurrandieta uncovered 20 graves, its significance was not fully understood until 1886 when two Belgian brothers, Henri and Louis Seret undertook investigative work on the site as there appeared to be a link to other sites they were investigating in the province of Almería, over the border in Andalucía. Artefacts had a uniformity which indicated a cultural parity between a number of sites and finally the culture was designated the “Argaric Culture”following the excavation of a first major settlement at El Algar.

Since then further sites have come to light and it is now known that the Argaric Culture covered all of Almería, much of Murcia, parts of Granada and Jaén and along the coast into Alicante province in the Comunidad Valenciana.

Tours begin at 10.00 and 12.00 and are in Spanish, although English speaking visitors can register with the tourist office and once a group has been formed an English language visit can also be arranged. Group bookings can also be arranged with an English speaking guide.

Tours cost 3 euros, and a reduced price of 2 euros is available for the unemployed, large families and pensioners. Children under the age of 12 can participate free of charge.

Click for more information about La Bastida which can be printed off using the icons in the header bar.

Reservations for all visits can be made at the Totana tourist office in person, by telephone on 968 418153, by email at turismo@totana.es or by using the ONLINE AUTOMATIC BOOKING SYSTEM BELOW.

TO BOOK USING ONLINE BOOKING SYSTEM BELOW :

SELECT ROUTE, AND CLICK ON SYMBOL SHOWING 31 TO GIVE DATES FOR EACH ROUTE, SELECT DATE AND CLICK TO BOOK

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