This document summarizes an archaeological site called Minateda located in Albacete, Spain. It was inhabited from the Neolithic era through the Islamic era. Some of the most significant discoveries at the site include a Visigothic basilica, one of the oldest in the Iberian Peninsula, along with a necropolis, cave dwellings, and remnants of defensive structures from different historic periods. Cave paintings were also discovered at the site in 1914, depicting animals hunted by the inhabitants and providing insight into their lives and beliefs. The site offers insight into urban planning from the Visigothic period.

1. A Paleolithic site: Minateda
By Cristina Mínguez Camacho, 2ºB.

2. Location
Located 8 km from Hellín, a town from
Albacete, next to N301 road which
connects Albacete and Murcia. It’s
situated on a hill of 10 ha of surface and it
constitutes a natural defensive
settlement.

3. Chronology
This site was inhabited between the Neolithic
(6,000 BC. – 1,000 BC.) and the Islamic Era ( 10th
century ).
The Romans called it Ilunum, the Visigoths
called it Eio or Elo and the Muslims knew it as
Madînat Yyih.

4. Some information about the site
It´s one of the five archaeological parks of Castilla-La Mancha and one of the best
examples of Visigothic urban planning that we know until now.
It was destroyed by Abd al Rahmán II on the year 820 during Tudmir’s peace.
One of the most important discoveries is a Visigothic basilica, one of the oldest in the
Peninsula. A necropolis, defensive systems, buildings from different cultures, cave
houses and remainders from the oldest occupations of the Bronze Era until the Islamic
Era have been discovered.

6. Cave paintings
They were discovered in 1914 by Juan Jiménez
Llamas. When these cave paintings were discovered,
the amount of figures, the different topics and the
style were the most outstanding features.
They represented animals like deers, goats, bulls…
maybe those they hunted and the most valuable for
them.
With the cave paintings we can know more about
how people lived, what they believed in, their
interests…

7. A woman with a kid
Human and animal
figures
A bull

8. Defensive systems.
General view of its strategic situation.

9. Visigothic basilica.
The necropolis and the sanctuary.

10. Oven from the Islamic Era.
Vessels from the necropolis and the
development of their decoration.

11. Sources
➔ Google Images
➔ http://www.albacetesiempreabierto.com/hellin/tolmodeminateda.htm
➔ http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tolmo_de_Minateda
➔ http://turismo.lacerca.com/noticias/parques_arqueologicos/tolmo_minateda-34850-1.html
➔ http://www.turismo-prerromanico.com/es/visigodo/monumento/baslica-de-eio-tolmo-de-minateda-
20130211190925/#ad-image-3
➔ http://turismocamposdehellin.com/es/patrimonio-e-historia/pinturas-rupestres-de-minateda
➔ http://www.lacerca.com/noticias/reportajes/pinturas_rupestres_minateda-20591-1.html