Inside oppida territories: The Late Iron Age in the Iberian Eastern Meseta (Central Spain)

Abstract

Since the beginning of Iron Age archaeology, urban agglomerations have dominated the debate on urbanism. The rural settlements – their types, functions and socio‐political dynamics – have been practically absent from the general discussion. The territorial backdrop of the Late Iron Age communities can provide both a new comparative framework in which to approach urban studies and essential keys to understanding how these societies worked. Developed from recent research into the 'oppida' territories of the Eastern Meseta in central Spain, this paper presents a territorial overview that includes a characterization of the rural settlement, population figures and the role of urban centres as a proxy for territorial identities. This work also explores the network of relationships between 'oppida' and between urban‐rural areas. In conclusion, this article argues that examining the rural‐urban settlement as a whole will lead us to a better understanding of the urban dynamics of the first millennium BC.