The archaeological site of the Castro of Castrolandín
The Castro of Castrolandín
Located just one and a half kilometers from the center of Cuntis, the Castro of Castrolandín is an archaeological site that was inhabited from the late Iron Age. It is a medium-sized settlement that came to house around one hundred people during the final phase of the Castro culture.
Its privileged location, near the Umia River, allowed for the development of a primarily farming community, in which agriculture and livestock were the basis of daily life.
A site with history
The castro was founded at the beginning of the 4th century BC and remained inhabited until the end of the 1st century AD, when it was definitively abandoned. From that point on, it was never occupied again. During that same period, just a few kilometers away, a Roman settlement was beginning to develop in what is now the town of Cuntis, linked to its renowned thermal waters.
Research and enhancement
Archaeological interventions, which began in 2004, have made it possible to document a total of 18 structures at the site. Today, 10 of these can be visited, standing out for their good state of preservation and their ability to illustrate the organization and functioning of the castro.
Aerial photo of Castrolandín
Archaeological excavations
North Sector
This sector extends over the rocky outcrop that occupies the northern third of the settlement. Here we find several small dwellings with circular or oval floor plans, characteristic of this type of settlement.
Among them stands out one of the most important family units of the site, both for its location and its size.
Within this complex, three main spaces can be identified. The first hut would have served as the dwelling. Inside, two essential elements of daily life are preserved: a stone bench located on the left and the hearth, which was used for cooking and heating the space.
Next to it is a courtyard enclosed by a wall. The ground was covered with a layer of compacted granitic sand and flat stones, forming a firm surface where various daily tasks were carried out, such as processing crops. On the left, steps can be seen leading to the higher part of this space.
The hut on the right would have functioned as a storage area. Inside, numerous remains of amphorae and seeds were found, indicating that food and other goods were stored here. A small stone worktable integrated into the wall is also preserved.
This complex allows us to better understand how domestic life in the settlement was organized, combining spaces for living, working, and storage.
Domestic unit in the North Sector
South Sector
In the flat area of the castro, the structures stand out for their size and the variety of their shapes. In this sector, we can see a dwelling with an atrium, another with a circular floor plan, and a third rectangular one, each telling its own story.
House with atrium
Among them, the hut with an atrium stands out in particular. This space, which would have functioned as an entrance hall, storage area, and workspace, is surprisingly large. In fact, it is currently the northernmost example of a dwelling with an atrium in Galicia, as this type of architecture is more commonly found in the south and in the Rías Baixas.
The hut is hard to miss: its hearth is monumental. The stones that define it, together with the fired clay slab on which the fire was made, suggest that it was not just a simple hearth, but a place of special significance.
A circular wall surrounding the hearth comes from an earlier hut, partially reused in this construction.
Rectangular hut in the South Sector
Hut with forecourt in the South Sector
East Sector
The wall and defenses consist of a ditch and an earthen rampart crowned by a wall. The rampart is supported by an inner and an outer retaining wall, and the stone wall stands on top of it.
Defensive structure in the East Sector
The current appearance of the remains of the site is the result of consolidation work. The structures were reinforced, avoiding imaginative reconstructions, in order to preserve them from weathering and other erosive elements. Originally, the walls were built with clay mortar. In the consolidation process, a lime mortar was used, which is more solid, does not damage the stones, and can be easily removed.
