Astur
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2008-06-27T10:43:56Z
Jaraalbe
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{{dablink|This is about the ancient European tribe. For an article about the font, see ''[[Astur (typeface)]]''.}}
The '''Astures''' were the original [[Indo-European people|Indo-European]] inhabitants of the northwest area of [[Hispania]] that now comprises almost the entire modern [[autonomous community]] of [[Asturias]] and the modern provinces [[León (province)|León]], and northern [[Zamora (province)|Zamora]] (all in [[Spain]]), and west of [[Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro|Trás os Montes]] in [[Portugal]]. The name was used until the foundation of the [[Kingdom of Asturias]].
Along with their fellow neighbours [[Gallaeci]] [[Lucenses]] and [[Braccarenses]] (see [[Gallaecia]]) they spoke a [[Q-Celtic|Q-Celtic tongue]].{{Fact|date=May 2007}} Most of their peoples, like the [[Lugones]], worshipped the Celtic god [[Lugh]], and references to other [[Celtic polytheism|Celtic deities]] like [[Taranis]] or [[Belenos]] still remain in the [[toponomy]] of the places inhabited by the Astures. Other scholars believe they were related to [[Ligures]].
From the Roman point-of-view, expressed in the brief remarks of the historians [[Florus]], epitomising [[Livy]], and [[Orosius]], there were two different factions within the Astures, following the natural division made by the alpine [[karst]] mountains of the [[Picos de Europa]]: ''Transmontani'' (located in the modern [[Asturias]], "beyond" and north of the Picos de Europa) and ''Cismontani'' (located on the "near" side in the modern area of [[León (province)|León]]). The Transmontani tribes were mainly located between the [[Navia River]] and the central [[massif]] of the Picos de Europa and the Cismontani surrounded [[Asturica Augusta]], the main Astur town in Roman times, and the ''Astura'' river (the modern [[Esla]]).
Some of the known transmontani astur peoples are: ''Lugones'', ''Pesicos'', ''Cilurnigos'', ''Vincianos'' and ''Viromenicos''. Known cismontani tribes are: ''Lancienses'', ''Orniacos'' and ''Supertios''.
==Mode of life==
[[Image:Castro-de-coana01.jpg|thumb|250px|left|[[Galician|Galaic]] hill fort of Coaña, [[Asturias]]]]
The Astures were [[hunter-gatherer|hunters and gatherers]] who also engaged in complementary agriculture. During a large part of the year they used the [[acorn]] as a staple food source, drying and powdering it and using the flour for a type of easily preserved bread. Their sown fields during the pre-Roman period were scarce. From them they harvested [[barley]] from which they produced [[beer]], as well as other crops, like [[wheat]] and [[flax]]. Due to the scarcity of their agricultural production as well as their strong war-like character, they made frequent incursions into the lands of the [[Vacceos]], who had a much more developed agriculture. [[Marcus Annaeus Lucanus|Lucan]] calls them ' Pale
seekers after gold ' (Astur scrutator pallidus aim).
According to classic authors, their family structure was [[matrilineal]], wherein the woman inherits and is the owner of property.
The Astures lived in [[hill fort]]s, established in strategic areas and built with round walls in today's [[Asturias]] and the mountainous areas of [[León (province)|León]], and with rectangular walls in flatter areas, similarly to their fellow [[Galicians]], the [[Lucensis]] and the [[Bracarensis]]
==Astur-Cantabrian Wars==
Along with their [[Cantabri]] neighbours, they were the last free tribes to fall to Romans in Hispania during the [[Astur-cantabrian wars|Astur-Cantabrian Wars]] ([[29 BC|29]] - [[19 BC]]) in [[Gallaecia]]. The Roman campaign against the Astures (the ''[[Astur-cantabrian wars#Bellum Asturicum|Bellum Asturicum]]'') began in [[25 BC]] and lasted for ten years.
==See also==
*[[Asturian people]]
*[[Astur-cantabrian wars|Astur-Cantabrian Wars]]
*[[Castro culture]]
*[[Gallaecia]]
*[[Eonavian]]
*[[Gausón]]
*[[Pre-Roman peoples of the Iberian Peninsula]]
==External links==
*[http://www.arqueotavira.com/Mapas/Iberia/Populi.htm Detailed map of the Pre-Roman Peoples of Iberia (around 200 BC)]
[[Category:Asturias]]
[[Category:History of Asturias]]
[[Category:Pre-Roman peoples of the Iberian Peninsula]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in Europe]]
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