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Culture
Castro de Pico Castello
Nestled behind the hamlet of Castello, in the parish of Berducedo, are the remnants of an ancient castro, known as Pico Castello. Identified by the famous Asturian archaeologist José Manuel González y Fernández-Vallés on 25 July 1956, this site was included in the catalogue of castros in 1966, and has been included in the Inventory of Cultural Heritage of Asturias (IPCA) since 23 December 2013 as well as in the Urban Catalog of the council of Allande.
A testament to the Proto-Asturian settlers from the Bronze Age, the castros served as fortified settlements until the advent of Roman legions and their transformative cultural influence. Pico Castello, like other castros, succumbed to abandonment and nature's reclamation but retained its place in local lore, passed down through generations in the community.
The locals, attuned to the ancient treasures buried in the castro, passed down an oral tradition that spoke of hidden riches awaiting discovery. Between 1932 and 1934, a group of amateurs found a crescent-shaped gold arracada (earring), a catillus (Roman-period grinding tool), a tegula (tile), and other fragments and utensils.
Despite the recognition sparked by these discoveries, the truth is that it was too late for Pico Castello. For centuries, ploughing, hamlet establishment, looting, and erosion had left their marks on the castro. Today, our understanding of the original castro arises from the study of the land. The oval-shaped structure, slightly bulging at the top, spanned approximately 75 metres by 65 metres. Stepped slopes, remnants of which linger in the southeastern part, once formed its defensive perimeter. An imposing slate encircled the area. In addition, there is a significant pit at the southeast end, which could have been a well for looting or material extraction.Some studies also suggest the existence of other additional structures, such as pits, which closed the southwestern flank and connected with the southeastern slopes, as seen in aerial images.