The agricultural wealth of Antas was discovered early
in neolithic times, as we know from archeological remains
discovered in El Aljoroque, El Garcel and la Pernera,
where a slate idol was unearthed that gave the area its
name.
However, it was in the Bronze Age that Antas became the
centre of a prehistoric empire with the establishment
of Argar and the Argárica culture which rolled
out across southeastern Spain between 1900 and 1300 Bc.
Legendary Belgian archaeologist Luis Siret discovered
an entire city in which the formula for making bronze
was kept secret by the city fathers, using this to ensure
their dominance over other settlements such as Fuente
Alamo in Cuevas del Almanzora and Catas in Turre.
Almeria province
