Three Phoenician sites located at the mouth of the Rio Algorrobo in the towns of Algorrobo and Vélez-Málaga have now been included in the Catalogue of Andalucian Historical Heritage, these enclaves dating back to the 8th and 9th centuries BC.
Morro de Mezquitilla, covering an area of 60,304 square metres and with a 244,090 square metre protected zone, is one of the oldest Phoenician sites in the Iberian Peninsular. The main structures at this site are dwellings and metallurgical furnaces.
Chorreras, covering an area of 16,730 square metres and with a 196,457 square metre protected zone, is a village dating back to the latter part of the 8th century BC. The houses, built with stone plinths and adobe walls, are grouped along a street.
The necropolis of Trayamar dates from the mid-seventh century BC and is located across the river opposite Morro de Mezquitilla with which it was closely linked.
Five collective graves have been documented in the area and numerous items of red lacquer pottery, jars, plates, lamps and jewellery have been found, most of these now on display in the Málaga Museum.
Much of the archaeological work, carried out over the past decades, has been promoted by the German Archaeological Institute.