Cancho Roano Archaeological Site: The Mysterious Tartessian Temple in Badajoz

Por Ángel M. Felicísimo

Por zalamea.com

Por Ángel M. Felicísimo

Por Té y kriptonita

Amid the gentle valleys of Zalamea de la Serena, the Prehistoric Site of Cancho Roano emerges as a silent witness to a distant past. Stepping into its stone walls sheltered beneath a large metal structure, you feel the presence of the Tartessian voices that once filled this temple-sanctuary with offerings and mystery.

The Discovery of Cancho Roano

In 1978, Jeromo Bueno, an Extremaduran farmer, drilled into his field seeking irrigation water. Beneath the soil, he uncovered a labyrinth of stone walls, ash layers, and artifacts so intact it was as if its ancient inhabitants had departed only hours before. José Antonio Hidalgo, a local schoolteacher, recognized its importance and alerted archaeologists, revealing this hidden sanctuary to the world.

A Unique Tartessian Structure

Rising near Zalamea de la Serena as a palimpsest of ritual rebuilding, Cancho Roano dates back to the 7th century BC when a simple oval hut was carved into the rock. After a ritual fire destroyed the first temple, a larger enclosure with a moat and well was constructed in the 6th century BC. Finally, the majestic two-story, square palace-sanctuary was completed, oriented to the east.

The Tartessians and Their Mysteries

Among the earliest metalworkers in the West, the Tartessians flourished from the 11th to the 4th century BC, blending Phoenician and Egyptian influences with local traditions. Their undeciphered language and trade in silver and tin mapped ancient maritime routes. At Cancho Roano, pristine offerings let us glimpse their sacrificial rituals and the bustle of a religious and commercial hub.

The Interpretation Center

Before exploring the site, the modern Interpretation Center welcomes you with an interactive model and display cases holding amphorae, pottery, and tools. Here you’ll learn the sequence of construction phases and the symbolism of each enclosure before seeing the ancient stones in their original context.

A National Monument

Declared a National Monument in 1986, Cancho Roano combines exceptional preservation with a protective metal greenhouse roof, allowing you to travel back to the 6th century BC without disturbing a single wall.

Let yourself be enveloped by the indelible mark of the Tartessians: wander its corridors, observe the charred remnants of its final rite, and feel the echo of a people who left a treasure for humanity under the ashes.