History of Castellar

The first occupation of Castellar is thought to date somewhere between the Final Copper and Bronze Ages. An important archaeological site which has illuminated this history is the Iberian Sanctuary of Cueva de la Lobera and the surrounding Altos del Sotillo, where figurines known as “mingos” have been found, bronze votive offerings deposited in the two sanctuaries. These vary in form, from male and female devotees and priests to abstractions that are only subtly recognisable as human figures.

History of Arquillos

The oldest documents in which the town of Arquillos is mentioned date back to 1254, and reference Alfonso X el Sabio handing over the village to Baeza for protection and defense. Other documents from this period imply that the town is Islamic in origin.

Although archaeological samples do not suggest the presence of many human settlements in the area prior to the Copper Age (middle of the III Millennium BC), there is evidence dating back to the fifth Millennium BC documenting the life habits of the hunters and gatherers of epipalaeolithic groups. A thousand years later, communities from further south arrived, specifically from the caves and shelters of Sierra Mágina, bringing with them Neolithic forms based on agricultural activity and certain technical advances such as the polishing of stone and ceramics. This has been documented in sites such as Los Horneros, Los Morales and Toya.

Torreperogil is a destination of special interest for those who wish to practice wine tourism in Jaén, being one of the few towns in the province that produce wines of recognised quality. It has about 7,200 inhabitants.