The first PREHISTORIC evidence of human settlement in Tavernes, and also in the whole Valencian Community, dating back to the Palaeolithic more than 350,000 years ago, can be found in the Bolomor Cave, in the Ombria mountain. Excavations confirm the adaptation of hominid communities, possibly Homo heidelbergensis.
Later, the Neanderthals established settlements in this area, according to findings in the same cave of different bones (molars, canines and a parietal), and the remains of the oldest hearth in Europe, which allows us to verify that they were already making controlled use of fire.
It was the Neolithic populations, with a more sedentary lifestyle, who were responsible for the continuity of the settlement. In the Cueva de la Carta, in the Bolomor ravine, remains from this period have been found.
In the Eneolithic period, caves were used as necropolises where everyday utensils were also deposited. The Cueva del Cazador (or Cueva de les Foietes) is a good example of this type of cave.
Tavernes was an ideal place for the Iberians due to its morphology: proximity to the sea and promontories from where they had a good field of vision. The ruins of fortifications on the south-eastern slope of the mountain of Las Cruces, known as the Castellets, El Ràfol and the Teularet area, confirm the existence of Iberian settlements.
As for ROMANISATION, the scarcity of finds confirms at least the existence of settlement in the valley during this period. There is a hypothesis of a Roman settlement to the southeast of the valley, due to the discovery of Roman coins in the Ombria mountain.
In the MUSLIM period, the valley was called the Alfándech valley (valley or ravine in Arabic) and the territory was organised in farmhouses around the Alfándech castle, which, together with the Castellets, which they occupied and rehabilitated, completed a defensive system with a surveillance mission.
Some of these farmhouses were called Gebalcobra in Arabic (major mountain), the old nucleus of present-day Tavernes, and Gebalsogra (minor mountain). In the 13th century, the colonisers called them Taverna and Ombria, respectively.
Outside the valley there were two nearby farmsteads that would later be incorporated into the domains of the Valldigna monastery: Massalalí and Alcudiola (currently located around the corner of Massalari and the other where the old hermitage of San Lorenzo is located (supposedly the base of an old Arab mosque). This territorial division lasted until the 19th century.
Around 1240, James I occupied the Alfándech valley; the CHRISTIAN occupation began. In order to ensure the exploitation of the territory, the Moorish population was not expelled. Those who remained were respected for their way of life, their customs and even the land they worked.
In 1249, King James I himself repopulated the territory and granted important donations to Christians from other places.
James I also promoted the immigration of Jews to the conquered territories, and in the Alfándech Valley they retained a privileged place as owners of houses and lands, received through royal donations until the 14th century.
During the Christian reconquest, it was guaranteed by royal privilege, later confirmed in 1298 by James II, that the Mudejars (Muslims who continued to live in the Iberian Peninsula during the Christian domination) of the Valldigna were allowed their religion, language and customs. But this situation of cultural and religious tolerance gradually changed and deteriorated, and worsened to such an extent that they lost their freedoms, rights and status.
In 1298, as he passed through the valley, surprised to see such an abundance of land, James II gave it the name of Valldigna, and it has remained that way ever since. That same year, he ceded the land to the Cistercian community to found the Valldigna monastery, which was responsible for protecting the Christians of the Ràfol.
The demarcation of La Valldigna took place in 1298, after the cession.
During the EXPULSION OF THE MORISCS, the monastery confiscated the houses and lands of the Muslims.
The Arab settlers were forced to accept, among other things, their incorporation into the unjust system of lordships.
The conversion and emigration of the Muslims and the construction of seven new churches in all the farmhouses was sufficient cause for the inhabitants of Ràfol to move to Gebalcobra (Tavernes) and create the most populated nucleus of the valley.
In order to stop the constant flight of infidels, the Cistercian monks travelled to all the surrounding villages with the aim of instructing the Moorish population according to the Christian religion.
The consequences of the expulsion were diverse and complex; among others, the ruin of feudal lords, abandoned lands, long periods of economic and demographic crisis, characterised by repopulation problems, the lack of manpower, the drop in the level of incomes…..
Around 1575, Philip II commissioned a study of coastal defence, fearing a possible Moorish invasion from the coast of Africa, as the southern and eastern coasts of the peninsula were often attacked by pirates and corsairs who ravaged crops and plundered villages.
Around 1575, Philip II commissioned a study of coastal defence, fearing a possible Moorish invasion from the coast of Africa, as the south and east coast of the peninsula was often attacked by pirates and corsairs who razed crops and plundered villages.
It was then that a new type of defensive construction appeared: watchtowers. They were built all along the coast and formed part of a watchtower system that provided a quick warning of an attack. The La Vall watchtower, near Tavernes beach, is one of the best preserved in the Valencian Community. It was declared an Asset of Cultural Interest, with the category of Monument, and has been registered in the Spanish Historical Heritage Register since 2002.
The 18th century was a time of MODERNISATION, an eminently positive period in terms of demographic growth and economic potential. We can highlight the unstoppable growth of agriculture. The most profitable irrigated crop was wheat, followed by rice. Livestock farming, on the other hand, was largely subordinate to agriculture.
The Valldigna was still a privileged land and the monastery of Santa Maria had the power over most of its assets.
As for the evolution of the technical improvements of the time, there are the hydraulic mills, adapted to the process of flour production or rice whitening which, taking advantage of hydraulic energy, activated a whole chained and efficient production system.
In Tavernes, some of these mills are still standing: the Molí Vell del Pla is the clearest example of these constructions.
The culmination of this modernisation process came with the industrial revolution and the important incorporation of the railway line, in our case the Carcagente-Denia line in 1884. This means of transport was used by both travellers and merchants, it opened the doors to trade, allowed people to move around and guaranteed constant communication.
As a final point to this brief summary of the history of Tavernes, it is worth mentioning that the town obtained the title of town in 1916, granted by King Alfonso XIII.
