Punta Ostreira Ancient Fortification

About this heritage

The Punta Ostreira ancient fortification, also known as Alberne or Os Castriños fortification, is an Iron Age settlement. It is located on a promontory over one of the entrances to the bay of A Pobra do Caramiñal, occupying one end of the old estate of the monastery of San Antonio de Xobre.

To learn more

The Punta Ostreira fortification consists of an oval enclosure which, at the time, was protected by a parapet, given the castrum’s sharp descent toward the sea and other slopes. On the west side, the parapet integrates an elevated moat, which is still noticeable. The Franciscans of the monastery of San Antonio de Xobre erected a chapel on this, of which only one wall remains.

The illegal works carried out on the fortification by a subsequent owner, brought about legal proceedings which gave rise to the first conviction for restitution of an archaeological site, by the High Court of Justice of Galicia. On investigating the despoilment, the archaeological samples indicated the history of the site, from the 3rd through to the 2nd centuries B.C., and interesting archaeological pieces, such as a set of weapons which were found hidden in one of the dwellings.

In the fortification’s vicinity, which is privately owned, a Roman altar was recently found, currently stored in the Valle-Inclán Museum in A Pobra do Caramiñal.

To know it better

The Punta Ostreira castrum is located in A Pobra do Caramiñal, in the province of A Coruña, more specifically, inside the ancient property where the monastery of Santo Antonio de Xobre stands.

The castrum was hidden in a forest, making it difficult to know that beneath all those trees, lay this ancient settlement. In the decade of 2000, ilegal works were carried out on the land but, miraculously, the archaeologist Juan J. Alonso Braña, revealed in his report, that the castrum has been preserved in good condition.

According to archeaological research, this castrum corresponds to the 3rd – 2nd centuries B.C., is of oval shape and was previously protected by a parapet or wall. Additionally, a set of weapons hidden under the dwellings were found here.