Palencia

Palencia, in Castile and Leon, Spain, occupies the site of ancient Pallantia, chief town of the Vaccaei people, mentioned by Strabo and Ptolemy [1] [2]. The fortified Celtiberian settlement endured Roman sieges by Lucullus (151 BC), Lepidus (137-136 BC), and Pompey during the Sertorian wars [1] [2]. Cathedral square excavations revealed superimposed occupation layers from the Sertorian period through Constantine's reign and medieval reoccupation [2]. Finds include Roman mosaics -- notably a Medusa head now in Madrid's National Archaeological Museum -- gold and silver hoards with native denarii, and numerous inscriptions [1] [2] [3].