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LBC News 2007-10-10 »

‘Europe’s oldest city’ is found

Posted by Y

By Elizabeth Nash in Madrid (The independent)

Published: 09 October 2007

 

http://news.independent.co.uk/europe/article3041063.ece

Archaeologists in Spain’s southern port of Cadiz (Atlantic Ocean) believe they have found remains which prove that it is Europe’s oldest inhabited city – Phoenician Gadir, or Gades in Roman times.

Remnants of walls have emerged seven metres deep in a dig beneath Cadiz’s old town centre which have been dated to the 8th century BC. Scientists found shards of Phoenician pottery, and pieces of jars, bowls and plates once used in everyday life which all point towards the existence of a town. A well-preserved bronze brooch has also appeared, suggesting a high level of civilisation. Previous finds, including funeral relics, did not provide conclusive evidence of urban settlement.

“We need to excavate further to see where these walls go,” said the director of the dig, Juan Miguel Pajuelo. “The existence of items of daily use suggests the walls were of houses.”

Historians have long known that Cadiz was founded by Phoenician traders more than 3,000 years ago as their first settlement in Europe.

Mariners from Tyre in today’s Lebanon established Gadir as a transit point for minerals brought from the Rio Tinto mines further north. The Romans later developed Gades as a naval base, and the poet Martial praised the city’s dancing girls.

But until now, no one has established exactly where Gadir (meaning “the fortress”) was. Scientists in the 1970s uncovered traces of a Phoenician settlement near Santa Maria del Puerto, to the north on the Guadalete river, but not quite the remains of a town. More recently, archaeologists in Chiclana, 16 miles south-east, found remains of Phoenician walls and traces of a temple.

Scientists from the three sites lay rival claims to Gadir. But Jose Maria Gener, who began the dig in the town centre 12 years ago, is sure it is the most likely location. “In Chiclana,” he said, “they still have to establish if their findings are Phoenician or an earlier indigenous settlement.”


Filed under: Other
Posted by Y on 10.10.07 @ 12:17 am |

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9 Comments. Add your own...

  • 1. nahid | October 10th, 2007 at 1:36 pm

    Hi

    spanish normal people and VERY ANTIPHATICAL towards foriegnersr and VERY stupid .
    foreigners are classified according to their origin ..

    and they do not care about what religion they have

    they just HATE foriegners .. it must be something within their internal thinking and history…

    all people originated from north africa +ME are called MOROS .
    ( this include Lebanese - christians or non christains –)

    French considers lebanese or christians from ME as also ARABS with one degree higher level than normal arabs and north african ..

    Those who do not knwo thsi REALITY …take note

    regards

  • 2. THERESINIA | October 10th, 2007 at 5:28 pm

    Please read the findings on the Phoenicians by famous Charles CORM who spent his life studying the subject and giving conferences worldwide. Also Camille ABOUSSOUAN is an erudit on the matter, without forgetting Saïd AKL, May MURR and especially LINA MURR who wrote a book on BAALBECK as built by the Phoenicians.
    What makes me sad is that Tunisia (Carthage), Malta, Italy, Spain, Libya, etc. are proud of this inheritage and speak more highly of Phoenicians than we the lebanese who live in the land where Phoenicians originated.

  • 3. Rodge | October 10th, 2007 at 6:12 pm

    Theresinia,

    I bet you can work easily as writer or journalist. You have the sense of it. I would like to discuss more with you on many subjects, i’m a journalist myself.
    If you have facebook, maybe you should join the Group http://www.ouwet.com, you can find me there, i think i’m the only Roger there, Roger Z to be specific in the last members pages, maybe we can issue a contact.

  • 4. THERESINIA | October 10th, 2007 at 11:11 pm

    Rodge,

    I do not have facebook. I am new to internet and knows only how to type (like on an old typewriter)!! Sorry, this may sound of obscure ages, but I am catching up quickly.
    By the way, is it true that PC’s, information systems, computer science, etc… were all invented by the taliban???

  • 5. THERESINIA | October 10th, 2007 at 11:44 pm

    RODGE,

    I registered on facebook under Theresinia. However, there are at least 3 ROGER Z…

  • 6. mikel | October 11th, 2007 at 2:08 am

    Theresinia

    The taliban??!!!??!?

    Are you talking about the afghani terrorist taliban, or some other taliban that I’ve never heard of.
    Because I don’t think any taliban member has electricity, let alone a PC.

  • 7. THERESINIA | October 11th, 2007 at 12:20 pm

    MIKEL,

    Of course I meant the TALIBAN !!! This is my sense of humor !!!!

  • 8. omar | October 11th, 2007 at 1:59 pm

    isnt gadir the Lebanese “Ghadir”?

  • 9. mikel | October 12th, 2007 at 1:38 am

    Oh! ok Theresinia, now I get it :D



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