The Iberians are one of the indigenous peoples of the Iberian Peninsula. Travelling and getting to know the Iberian culture in Jaen is getting closer to the origins of our land. That is why we have written an article focused on inspiring you to travel to Jaen to discover the Iberian civilisation.
What you will find here
WHO WERE THE IBERIANS
The Iberians were a civilisation that originated in the Iberian Peninsula and spread throughout the eastern part of the Iberian Peninsula between the 4th century BC and Romanisation (2nd and 1st centuries BC). Within the Iberian culture, there were several peoples with different names: Bastetans, Oretans, Turdetans, Bastuli, etc. We know them from the written sources of the Greeks and Romans.
The rest of the peninsula was inhabited by peoples influenced by Celtic culture: Asturians, Gaulish, Carpetans, Lusitanians, etc.
The Iberians lived in small cities called ‘oppida’ (singular) or ‘oppidum’ (plural). They were not simple castles, but settlements located in elevated places, fortified and with a planned urbanism that functioned as authentic cities. A little further on we will tell you about some of these oppidum that can be visited in Jaen.
Their culture flourished due to intense contact with the Phoenicians, Greeks, Carthaginians and finally the Romans. From them they received a very significant transfer of technological, agricultural and artistic knowledge.
Map of the areas of influence of Celts and Iberians in the Iberian Peninsula (INTEF. José Alberto Bermúdez. CC BY-NC-SA).
The Tartessian civilisation, which originated in western Andalusia some centuries before by the contact between Phoenicians and local groups, also played a relevant role in the formation of the Iberian peoples, but we will reserve a specific post for them later on.
WHY THERE IS AN IBERIAN MUSEUM
There is an Iberian Museum, almost unique in its kind, because the Iberian culture is full of peculiarities that have made it a sign of identity, not only of Jaen. Granada and Almería, but of a large part of present-day Spain. They are considered one of the oldest civilisations in the West, after Tartessos.
The Iberians were the first grid cities in the West. They had their own writing, also one of the first in the Iberian Peninsula. They also developed a unique art. They worked exceptionally well with metals. They minted their own coins and forged the famous falcatas, which are somewhere between myth and reality.
Iberian art is manifested in the great sculptures we will see a little further on, but also in a large repertoire of ceramic pieces which, to the untrained eye, could pass for Greek or Roman. They were the first culture on the peninsula to use the potter’s wheel.
Visitors in front of a display case with pottery and an Iberian falcata.
IBERIAN MUSEUM OF JAEN
The Iberian Museum of Jaen is the place where the most complete collection of this ancient Mediterranean culture is exhibited. But it was also conceived as a great research and educational centre. That is why during the visit to the Iberian Museum, apart from the exhibition rooms, you can see the laboratories where the archaeological material recovered in the excavations of Jaen is processed.
This museum collects and exhibits archaeological materials from different archaeological sites in Jaen, but also from other parts of eastern Andalusia. It can be considered the largest exhibition of Iberian art in the world. Among the objects that can be seen are cult objects, funerary offerings, everyday objects, etc. Perhaps one of the most impressive treasures are the ceramic pieces from the necropolis of Piquía (Arjona).
Rooms of the exhibition ‘Oppidum’ (2024).
THE BUILDING OF THE IBERIAN MUSEUM
If the content is spectacular, the container is no less so. It is a more than interesting visit for lovers of contemporary architecture. The origins of this building go back to 2001, when an agreement was signed between institutions for its construction, which will be carried out between 2009 and 2018.
The Iberian Museum is a modern building with a minimalist and functional style. Its interior features large, bright, open-plan spaces that allow for the design of temporary exhibitions.
Main entrance to the Iberian Museum.
SCULPTURE COLLECTION OF THE IBERIAN MUSEUM
While the rest of the Iberian Peninsula produced crude and schematic sculptures, the Iberians of Jaen sculpted much more realistic and elaborate pieces. In Iberian sculpture you can perceive an orientalising air as a result of contact with the peoples of the eastern Mediterranean.
Iberian sculptures in the exhibition ‘The Lady, the Prince, the Hero and the Goddess’.
The current exhibition (2024) is called ‘The Lady, the Prince, the Hero and the Goddess’. It is a wonderful exhibition whose main pieces are a set of Iberian sculptures from the Cerrillo Blanco site. The four characters in the exhibition are represented by real treasures found in excavations of Iberian tombs. Among the funerary offerings are the Greek craters from Piquía (Arjona) and a large number of metal pieces such as fibulae, caps, lids and various beads.
Access to the exhibition ‘The Lady, the Prince, the Hero and the Goddess’.
COLLECTION OF ROMAN COINS
In another set of rooms you can enjoy an exhibition of Roman denarii from the Republican period. Through numismatics you will learn about such important aspects of Roman life as the origins of Rome, the founding of cities, the image of women, festivities, religion and even Iberian symbols.
Coins with symbols of Iberian writing.
TEMPORARY EXHIBITIONS
The Iberian Museum is a huge building with a multitude of rooms that allow the development of temporary exhibitions. You can practically always find exhibitions on specific aspects of the Iberian world or on other periods of history. We recommend you to visit the official website of the Iberian Museum for more information.
OPENING HOURS OF THE IBERIAN MUSEUM
The Iberian Museum of Jaen has two timetables depending on the time of year.
- From 16 June to 15 September: Tuesday to Sunday and public holidays from 09:00 to 15:00.
- From 16 September to 15 June: Tuesday to Saturday from 09:00 to 21:00; Sundays and public holidays from 09:00 to 15:00.
However, there are special holidays, so we recommend you check the opening hours on the official website.
Admission is free for EU citizens and costs €1.50 for non-EU citizens.
HOW TO GET TO THE IBERIAN MUSEUM
ehe Iberian Museum is located on the northern edge of the historic centre of Jaen. There is an underground car park just in front of it. The address of the museum is: Paseo de la Estación 41, 23008 Jaen.
CONTACT THE IBERIAN MUSEUM
To contact the Iberian Museum of Jaen you can do so by telephone at 953001692 or by e-mail at [email protected].
Rooms of the Iberian Museum.
AN ESSENTIAL COMPLEMENT TO A VISIT TO THE IBERIAN MUSEUM
OPPIDA OF PUENTE TABLAS (JAEN)
The oppida of Puente Tablas is an archaeological site that has provided valuable information about Iberian life in the region. It is also an excellent place to visit if you are visiting Jaen, as it is only a few kilometres from the city (15 minutes by car). As well as providing the Jaen Iberian Museum with numerous pieces, some of its structures have been restored and consolidated so that visitors can interpret the archaeological remains.
Entrance to the oppida of Puente Tablas (Veinticuatro de Jahén. Wikipedia. CC BY-SA 4.0).
CERRILLO BLANCO (PORCUNA)
As we have already mentioned throughout this article, the archaeological site of Cerrillo Blanco is one of the archaeological sites that contributes the most objects to the Iberian Museum of Jaen. It is especially known for the group of sculptures that you have already seen. Through these pieces it has been possible to go deeper into what the Iberian society was like: the aristocracy, the role of women in society, the importance of hunting and fighting, etc. During the visit you will find Iberian burials of great magnitude, some of them partially preserved.
CASTULO (LINARES)
Castulo is a unique town, as it signed a pact with the Romans that allowed it to maintain a certain degree of autonomy. Its origins date back 4,000 years and it has always been strongly linked to mining. Many pieces exhibited in the Iberian Museum of Jaen come from Castulo.
Among the findings that you will be able to see during your visit, the ‘Mosaic of Love’, discovered in 2011, stands out. This fantastic tesserae pavement contains an excellent collection of mythological scenes and was mentioned by National Geographic as one of the most important archaeological finds in the world.
Roman mosaics in Castulo (© Linares Turismo).
ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE OF TORREPAREDONES (BAENA)
Torreparedones is another of those ancient sites. In this case, archaeologists date its origins to around 3500 years ago, long before the Iberians. However, it was during the Iberian and Roman periods when it was most developed. It is a fortified city, equipped with all services. A sanctuary was built on the outskirts and remained in use during the Roman period. The Romans embellished the city and today you can visit the thermal baths, the forum, the market, etc.
TOYA BURIAL CHAMBER (PEAL DEL BECERRO)
In this pretty village in Jaen you can visit the interior of an Iberian tomb. This 2,400-year-old monument is the only one that is still standing and has preserved its roofs. The village also has a very interesting interpretation centre where you can learn more about the Iberian world.
Nearby, in the neighbouring village of Hornos, there is another similar burial site, but in this case it is not open to visitors.
IBROS WALLS
Ibros preserves some fragments of what is considered to be a cyclopean wall, i.e. a wall built with large blocks of stone. According to researchers, these defensive structures correspond to the late Iberian period, known as Late Iberian or Ibero-Roman. Ibros is, of course, one of those villages in the Jaen countryside that is well worth a visit.
OPPIDA OF GIRIBAILE (VILCHES)
In the north of the province is a spectacular oppida that crowns a large plateau. The archaeological site is not equipped for visits, but in the nearby village of Vilches you can visit the Giribaile Fortified City Interpretation Centre.
OTHER SITES THAT CANNOT BE VISITED
Other sites that have not yet been opened for tourist visits are the Iberian Sanctuary Cueva de la Lobera (Castellar), the site of Cortijo del Pajarillo (Huelma), the necropolis of Piquía (Arjona) and the Castellones de Ceal (Hinojares) among many others. The visit is recommended only if you have a great interest in the Iberian culture. It is important to respect the visible archaeological remains, not to collect material and, if possible, to visit with someone who knows the place to make the experience more complete.
However, if you have not yet seen all the places mentioned in the previous section, you still have a long way to go.
Exhibition ‘Oppidum’ (2024).
READY TO VISIT THE IBERIAN MUSEUM?
Now that you know a little more about the Iberian Museum of Jaen, you will surely want to visit it. If you are visiting Jaen, remember to try its olive oil, and if you still don’t know why, here are 5 reasons why you should.
