Almería culture

The Almerian culture refers to Neolithic and Aeneolithic (Copper Age) cultures found in the Almer\u00eda province of Spain. This culture flourished around the beginning of the 2nd millennium BCE, characterized by advanced metallurgy in bronze, silver, and gold.12

Key aspects include:
* Settlements: Impressive fortified settlements like Los Millares featured strong stone walls and defensive structures, indicating a stratified society and potential social instability.3
* Economy: Agriculture, based on wheat and barley, along with raising livestock, formed the economic base. The arid region relied on irrigation for cultivation.3
* Trade: The culture engaged in trade with centers in the eastern Mediterranean.2
* Burial Practices: Collective tombs were common, and grave goods suggest social stratification and inequality.3

The El Argar culture, which developed from these earlier traditions, reached its peak between 1700 and 1000 BCE and spread throughout southern and central regions of the Iberian Peninsula.2