Tartessos Civilization (Roman, influence, general, colonies)

[lentzr]

Very little seems to be known about the Tartessos Civilization that existed in Southern Spain before the rise of Carthage. The Lonely Planet Guidebook simply mentions that they were influenced by the Phonecian colonies that existed in the area (especially that at Cadiz). However, do we now have any idea about who the Tartessos peoples were? Where was their main city? What do we really know and what is the general accepted theories. After reading much about Spanish history when I was in college, I was always struck about the lack of information written on its history before the Roman conquest. Tartessos is a big blank to me and probably most other historians...but what do we know or think we know?

[kovert]

I'm interested in them too.

I have read from medieval Spanish, Arabic & classical Greco-Roman sources that they could have been at least 2 expeditions of North Africans into southern Spain.

[Neng.]

lentzr

Yes, not much know about Tartessos, only some hoards found. It seems that their city is just beneath many meters of mud around Doñana National Park. Yes, they were known by Phoenicians and Greeks.