El Castejón of Luzaga: the oppidum of the Celtiberian bronze

A hill above the Tajuña

North of Luzaga, on the summit of El Castejón hill, stood one of the principal fortified centers of Celtiberia: an oppidum. Recent archaeological investigations have documented massive defensive walls and an urban settlement organized along defined streets.

The bronze plaque

During 19th-century explorations, the Luzaga Bronze (Bronce de Luzaga) was unearthed here: a small bronze plaque dating to the 1st century BC bearing an inscription in the Celtiberian language. While its exact phrasing remains subject to linguistic debate, broad consensus interprets it as a formal hospitality pact (tessera hospitalis) contracted between the communities of Lutiaca and Arecorata. The original artifact is held in a private collection, and researchers have long advocated for broader scholarly access to study it.

Lutia?

Certain historical authors identify this hilltop with Lutia, the Celtiberian city whose young warriors attempted to aid besieged Numantia, prompting severe retribution from Scipio in 133 BC. This geographic identification remains debated. Read more on this era in Celtiberia.