Gallaeci

The Gallaeci were an Iron Age people who inhabited the northwestern region of the Iberian Peninsula, roughly corresponding to modern Galicia, northern Portugal, and parts of Asturias and León. Their culture flourished from the 4th century BCE until the Roman conquest. The Gallaeci were organized into numerous distinct tribes, often identified by their settlements, known as castros, which were typically fortified hilltop villages. Archaeological evidence suggests a hierarchical society with a strong martial tradition.

Their economy was primarily based on agriculture and animal husbandry, with evidence of mining for gold and other metals. The Gallaeci are known for their distinctive funerary practices and a rich artistic tradition, particularly in metalworking and stone carving. Their language, Gallaecian, is considered a Celtic language and is the ancestor of modern Galician and Portuguese.

The Gallaeci first came into significant contact with the expanding Roman Republic in the 2nd century BCE, leading to a period of intermittent conflict and eventual Roman conquest in the 1st century BCE. Despite Roman rule, Gallaecian culture persisted for centuries, gradually integrating into the Romanized world. The term "Gallaecia" was later used by the Romans to refer to the administrative province encompassing their territory. Their legacy is preserved in place names, linguistic remnants, and the archaeological sites scattered throughout the region.