Los torques castreños del noroeste de la Península Ibérica

Abstract

The abundance of gold in the Northwest of the Iberian Peninsula facilitated the appearance of a rich metal work in which the torc, the most characteristic and well known element of the Castro Culture, reached its highest splendour during the Iron Age. This splendour was also propitiated by the use of techniques coming from the South of the Iberian Peninsula, the influences from Central Europe, and the persistence of the Bronze Age traditions. An analysis of the typological variation and the geographical distribution of the torcs confirms the existence of geographical groups in the Castro torcs, suggesting its use as prestige objects and as a way of ethnic differentiation from other groups.