Archaeologists
from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) have discovered a
palatial construction with an audience hall which makes up the first
specifically political precincts built in continental Europe. A prince's
tomb in the subsoil contains the largest amount of grave goods from the
Bronze Age existing in the Iberian Peninsula. Some of the most
outstanding items include a silver diadem of great scientific and
patrimonial value, the only one conserved from that era in Spain, as
well as four golden and silver ear dilators.
Excavations conducted in August by the researchers of the UAB's
Department of Prehistory Vicente Lull, Cristina Huete, Rafael Micó y
Roberto Risch have made evident the unique archaeological wealth of La
Almoloya site, located in Pliego, Murcia. The site was the cradle of the
"El Argar" civilisation which lived in the south-eastern part of the
Iberian Peninsula during the Bronze Age.
La Almoloya is located on a steep plateau which dominated an
extensive region. This strategic and privileged position gave way to
over six centuries of occupation, from 2200 to 1550 before our common
era. The site was discovered in 1944 by Emeterio Cuadrado and Juan de la
Cierva.
The findings indicate that La Almoloya was a primary centre of
politics and wealth within the political territory of El Argar --
located a few hundred kilometres to the south in Almeria -- and sheds
new light on the politics and gender relations in one of the first urban
societies of the West.
A Palatial Building and new Argaric Style
The discoveries made by the archaeological team include an urban
tissue made up of fully equipped buildings, as well as dozens of tombs,
most of them including grave goods. According to archaeologists, this
urban tissue, as well as the solidity and mastery of the construction
techniques, are unique samples of prehistoric constructions in
continental Europe.
The excavations indicate that the La Almoloya plateau, of 3,800
metres square, was densely populated and included several residential
complexes of some 300 square metres, with eight to twelve rooms in each
residence.
The buildings' walls were constructed with stones and argamasa, and
covered with layers of mortar. Some parts contain stucco decorated with
geometric and naturalistic motifs, a novelty which represents the
discovery of an Argaric artistic style.
Among the discoveries made is a wide hall with high ceilings
measuring some 70 square metres, with capacity for 64 people seated on
the benches lining the walls. The hall includes a ceremonial fireplace
and a podium of symbolic character. This unique building was used for
political purposes and archaeologists consider that it must have been
used to celebrate hearings or government meetings.
La Almoloya's Great Hall. Credit: Image courtesy of Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Archaeologists affirm that this is the first time a building
specifically dedicated to governing purposes has been discovered in
Western Europe, and believe that decisions were taken here which
affected many of the region's other communities.
The hall and adjoining rooms make up a large building which the
archaeologists have classified as a palace. They highlight the fact that
only the most important of Oriental civilisations had similar
constructions during the Bronze Age, with comparable structures and
functions.
Several items were recovered from the interior of the buildings,
including objects made with metals, stones, bones, fabrics and ceramics;
all in exceptional states of conservation.
A Princely Tomb with Objects of Great Value
Of the fifty tombs excavated from under the La Almoloya buildings,
one stands out in particular. Located in a privileged area, next to the
main wall of the hall, the tomb reveals the remains of a man and woman
buried with their bodies in a flexed position and accompanied by some
thirty objects containing precious metals and semi-precious stones.
One of the most outstanding pieces is a silver diadem which encircled
the skull of the woman. The silver diadem is of great scientific and
patrimonial value, since the only other four diadems known to have
existed were all discovered 130 years ago at the site of El Algar in
Almeria, but none of them remain today in Spain.
A silver diadem discovered in the Spanish Bronze
Age tomb, perched atop the head of a female skeleton. Credit: Image
courtesy of Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Four ear dilators, which are unusual objects for the Bronze Age, were
also discovered; two are made of solid gold and two of silver.
The abundance of silver is especially notable, since archaeologists
also found nine other objects made of silver, including rings, earrings
and bracelets. They also discovered that the nails used to hold the
handle of an elaborate bronze dagger were made of silver.
Skull and detail of the jewels, with the golden
and silver ear dilators. Credit: Image courtesy of Universitat Autònoma
de Barcelona
One of the most admirable items is nonetheless a small ceramic cup
with the rim and outer part covered in fine layers of silver and which
constitutes a pioneering example of silverwork on vessels.
The last item worth mentioning is a metallic punch with a bronze tip
and a handle forged in silver. This item is considered unique and
archaeologists were surprised to discover the perfection with which it
was crafted and the grooved designs which decorate the top of the punch.
According to researchers, the artifacts found at La Almoloya are of
great historical and patrimonial relevance. Their interest transcends
local scale and should be considered of first order for all of Europe.
They assure that the items are unique and that in addition to their
intrinsic value, there is also the fact that they are perfectly
contextualised. The archaeologists also stress the need to conserve,
study and disseminate these findings.
La Almoloya contains many unknown answers and offers many promising
perspectives for future digs. The completion of the urban tissue and
revealing the details of the first political structure of the West are
some of the challenges remaining, archaeologists conclude.
Featured image: The sprawling site of La Almoloya, near Pliego,
Murcia in southeastern Spain. Credit: Image courtesy of Universitat
Autònoma de Barcelona
Source:
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. "Bronze age palace and grave goods
discovered at the archaeological site of La Almoloya in Pliego,
Murcia."
ScienceDaily.