NOT many people know that quite a famous Copper Age archaeological site is located at a place called Los Millares, close to a town called Santa Fe de Mondújar just less than 20km inland from Almería.
![Almeria: Los Millares [Photographs by Miguel Ángel Blanco de la Rubia]](http://lh3.ggpht.com/_BfC6j03vee0/TQHw9IIF__I/AAAAAAAAIYA/9B0Zl4jcPHo/AlmeriaLosMillares13_thumb3.jpg)
From researching material on the internet it appears that the site dates back to at least around 3000 BC if not earlier.
![Almeria: Los Millares [Photographs by Miguel Ángel Blanco de la Rubia]](http://lh6.ggpht.com/_BfC6j03vee0/TQHw9rsGaKI/AAAAAAAAIYE/jmceHgw39SU/losmillares2_thumb3.jpg)
The site contains lots of ancient remains of a village that once housed around 1,000 people.
![Almeria: Los Millares [Photographs by Miguel Ángel Blanco de la Rubia]](http://lh3.ggpht.com/_BfC6j03vee0/TQHw-s_fMEI/AAAAAAAAIYM/V7_KdvZ6eAo/AlmeriaLosMillares9_thumb3.jpg)
It is located on the edge of a steep drop which probably made it easier to defend. It consists of the main settlement which is guarded by a number of forts.
![Almeria: Los Millares [Photographs by Miguel Ángel Blanco de la Rubia]](http://lh5.ggpht.com/_BfC6j03vee0/TQHw_5q0bpI/AAAAAAAAIYU/VtpRrnDbbxw/AlmeriaLosMillares3_thumb3.jpg)
There are also a number of tombs and a reconstruction of a tomb on the site.
![Almeria: Los Millares [Photographs by Miguel Ángel Blanco de la Rubia]](http://lh5.ggpht.com/_BfC6j03vee0/TQHxBK-bQwI/AAAAAAAAIYc/rKTrCI1ao8Y/AlmeriaLosMillares6_thumb3.jpg)
Apparently the residents of the site were mainly farmers but they appear to have metal working skills as there is evidence of copper smelting taking place at Los Millares.
The site is open for visitors but they ask you to confirm in advance that you are coming. Entrance is free.
Author: John M. Woodhead | Source: The Olive Press [December 09, 2010]