GEO magazine dedicates a 12-page report to the Valle de la Muerte and the Iberian Granada

The report is signed by the writer and editor Manuel Pimentel, who presents the television programme Arqueomanía on La 2. The former Minister of Labour and Social Affairs takes a tour of the spectacular landscapes of the north of the province of Granada, beginning with the dolmens of Gorafe and then focusing on the necropolises of Basti and Tútugi. In the former, dated between the 5th and 4th centuries BC, a spectacular polychrome female sculpture was found in Tomb Number 43 on 20 July 1971 during the excavation of the Cerro del Santuario (Sanctuary Hill). It was baptised by archaeologists as the Lady of Baza. In 2021, with the slogan "Three millennia, two cultures, one Lady", the 50th anniversary of its discovery will be celebrated, which was a milestone in the knowledge of the culture of the ancient Iberians, especially in the artistic and funerary spheres. And in the second, the Lady of Galera was found, a small sculpture dating from the 7th century BC, carved in alabaster and representing Astarte, a divinity of Eastern origin linked to fertility rites. The itinerary closes in the Jaén necropolis of Tugia (Peal de Becerro), with the chamber of Toya, a princely tomb from the 4th century BC.

The provincial deputy for Tourism in Granada, Enrique Medina, was very satisfied with the quality and depth of the article and considers that it will help to raise awareness of the Granada Geopark and its extraordinary landscape and archaeological value. "Cultural tourism linked to the history of the Iberians can be a magnificent tool for the development of rural areas in the north of the province of Granada."A product that allows us to diversify the cultural offer, very dependent in our case on the capital, and offer reasons for visitors to repeat their trip or extend their stay in the province", considers the vice-president of the Provincial Tourist Board. In this sense, he recalled that many of the enclaves to learn about the past are worth a visit: the Baza Archaeological Site Interpretation Centre, the Galera Archaeological Museum, the Castellón Alto Site, the Gorafe Megalithic Interpretation Centre...

The town councils of Baza and Galera have also collaborated in the publication of the report. The councillor for Tourism from Baza, Mari Carmen González, and the mayor and archaeologist from Galera, José Manuel Guillén, accompanied Pimentel, the director of GEO magazine, Julián Dueñas, and the photographer José Barea in their fieldwork and documentation.

The lands of Galera, Baza, Guadix and Granada, due to their strategic geographical location, reached great splendour in the Iberian period (from 650 to 50 BC), as they connected the mining centres of the Upper Guadalquivir with the towns of the Levant and were also part of the trade routes. The settlements of Tútugi, Basti and Iliberis were built in this region, the germ of the current towns of Galera, Baza and Granada, with an economy based on agriculture, livestock and metallurgy, with iron, gold and silver as logical references..

There, highly developed, complex and prosperous societies were formed, which is reflected in the remains of fine pottery and rich gold and silver work found in the grave goods of the necropolis, with special interest in the tomb where the Lady of Baza was found, one of the greatest archaeological treasures found in Granada..

The mark of the Iberians is clearly visible today in Granada, Jaén and Córdoba. The provincial councils of the three provinces, with the support of the Junta de Andalucía, have launched the Tourist product 'Andalucía Íbera', a fundamental tool to disseminate the legacy of this culture that gave its name to our peninsula and inhabited it for seven centuries, leaving behind a rich archaeological heritage.

Enrique Medina considers it essential to develop this type of initiative to encourage cultural tourism: "In the case of the province of Granada, cultural tourism is the most widespread type of tourism. Almost 60% of the tourists who visit us are attracted by our history, our monumental heritage, and they take part in cultural visits and activities. However, it is also the most mature type of tourism, with the greatest signs of stagnation. That is why we must look for new market niches that prevent its decline and favour its rejuvenation, especially if we take into account the demands of a customer who stands out for his high cultural and socio-economic level and who is always looking for new destinations and experiences for his holidays."

GEO magazine is reinforcing the launch of its March issue, which contains the report dedicated to the Iberian Granada, with an advertising campaign in 'mupis' in kiosks in Madrid, on the thematic television channel Odissea and on various Mediaset channels.