Oiasso facts for kids
Oiasso, also known as Oiasona or Oiarso, was an important ancient town. It was a Roman town where the Vascones, an old Basque people, lived. Oiasso was located near the Bidasoa River, right where it meets the Bay of Biscay. This area is now part of the Basque Country in Spain.
Recently, archaeologists found many clues about Oiasso in the old part of Irun, a town near the Spanish-French border. They discovered parts of a harbour and old Roman baths there. Other important finds were made nearby, like at Cape Higuer and Ama Xantalen. These discoveries include an ancient burial ground (necropolis) and a special tomb (mausoleum). This shows that Oiasso was a large and spread-out settlement.
Some experts believe the name Oiasso might have referred to the entire valley, not just one town. They even think the name of the Bidasoa River could come from the Latin phrase "via ad Oiasso," meaning "the road to Oiasso." Also, it's thought that the name of the nearby town Oiartzun, about 10 kilometers away, might have developed from the name Oiasso.
Contents
Why Oiasso Was Important
A Roman Road and Mines
The Romans built a special road from Oiasso to an ancient city called Pompaelo. This road went through a wild area known as the Saltus Vasconum. The main reason for this road was to connect the Roman town to the Arditurri mines. These mines were located in the Aiako Harria mountains.
Rich in Resources
The Romans were very interested in the Arditurri mines. They found valuable metals there, especially silver and copper. Oiasso had a port and factories that helped process these metals. From there, the processed materials were sent away to other parts of the Roman Empire. This made Oiasso a very important center for trade and industry.
Oiasso Today
Discovering the Past
Today, people are very interested in the ancient remains of Oiasso. A museum was recently opened in Irun to show off these amazing discoveries. The museum helps visitors learn about the town's history and its importance in Roman times.
A Misunderstood Name
For a long time, people mistakenly thought Oiasso was the same place as modern-day San Sebastián. Even now, San Sebastián is sometimes called la bella Easo, which means "The beautiful Easo." "Easo" is a Spanish version of the name Oiasso.
See also
In Spanish: Oiasso para niños Iruña-Veleia
