Mojacar civilisation dates back to Neolithic times with
early remains found in the Cueva del Algarrobo, and some
later evidence in La Huerta below the village, along with
burial grounds at Loma de Belmonte and Cabecico del Aguilar.
During the Iron Age, Celtic people settled the area, arriving
from central and northern Europe, followed by Greeks and
Phoenicinas who dug mines in the Sierra Almagrera. By the
end of the third century the Romans has populated the area
around Baria and Mojacar village. The next wave of settlers
were Visigoths who arrived in the fifth century and stayed
until around 800 AD, before being driven out by the Mooor,
whose reign lasted 600 years until the surrender of the
town to the Reyes Católicos in 1488.
According to legend Alavez the Moorish ruler of Mojacar,
offered the Crown his subjects allegiance provided they
could keep their homes and land, and coexist peacefully
with the Christians. Upon delivery of the town however,
the Moors were summarily expelled, and the town repopulated
by Christian citizens from Murcia. Key to the growth of
Mojacar at that time was the rapid expansion of the mining
industry, and the rail transport of lead ore from Bedar
to Garrucha for smelting and onward shipping. In 1887 the
population of Mojacar reached 6.382…Mining activities
continued up until WW1, when it came to an abrupt halt,
forcing many inhabitants to leave the area in search of
alternative work.
By the 1950s the population count reached an all-time low
of just 300. Luckilly the 1960s saw he advent of mass tourism,
and this has sustained the town until modern times, increasing
the population to around 7000 a figure that doubles in the
summer months. Today Mojacar is a prosperous town, largely
thanks to tourism with 17 km of beach, many restaurants
and bars, hotels including the Parador nacional de los Reyes
Católicos and the Pueblo Indalo complex typical examples
of the way that the town is being developed with environmental
factors in mind.
