Castro de Elviña

Castro de Elvina is an Iron Age hillfort located south of the city of A Coruna, Galicia, built by the Gallaeci Celtic tribes. Declared a historic monument in 1962, the site features a triple perimeter wall with access to the acropolis through two tower-flanked entrances. The ramparts are built of stone blocks, and dwellings have circular or oval ground plans, with an exedra (rectangular with an apse) and a rectangular water deposit with stepped sides. Excavations in the late 1940s and early 1980s uncovered a gold treasure including a tiara and necklace, as well as imported ceramics and glazed beads. From its elevation of 100 metres, inhabitants could monitor ships and trade routes along the Galician coast, making it an important centre for ancient commerce.