The Tartessian civilization is one of the great enigmas of the peninsula. Now he is revealing himself from a town in Badajoz
Guareña is a town in Vegas Altas del Guadiana, Badajoz, with just over 6,600 inhabitants. Historians have long known that there, not far from the mouth of the Burdalo Riverit hides an archaeological sitebut its scope was not clear until just over a decade ago. After a first survey, in 2014researchers began to recover pieces and unearth structures that 12 years later have become a fascinating window to one of the most enigmatic peoples who inhabited the southwest of the peninsula: the Tartessians. Since then they have not stopped exploring the deposit (known as Casas de Turuñuelo) in search of treasures like the one that has just surfaced now, during its eighth campaign. What has happened? That we just found a new test (the umpteenth) of the enormous archaeological wealth of Turuñuelo Housesthe Tartessian site located in Guareña, province of Badajoz. Although the eighth exploration campaign started in late April and will not be completed until the end of May, the researchers have found a discovery that has captured the interest of media such as RTVE or Extremadura Channel. In recent days, both media have reported on the discovery of an altar in the shape of a bull’s skin, a characteristic piece of the Tartessian culture that joins another of the same style located during a previous excavation. The structure appeared in a hallway attached to what is known as ‘room 100’ of the site. When analyzing it in detail, the researchers verified that it still has remains of ashes from the sacrificed animals on it. Why is it important? For several reasons. One, it allows us to better understand how the Casas del Turuñuelo site was structured. Two, it confirms its enormous archaeological wealth and (most importantly) its usefulness for knowing the tartessiansthe civilization that prospered in the surroundings of what are now the provinces of Huelva, Seville, Cádiz and Badajoz between approximately the 9th and 5th centuries BC From the Guareña City Council remember In fact, the site is part of the Tartessian culture of the 5th century before our era and “stands out for being one of the most relevant enclaves of said civilization in the Iberian Peninsula.” Proof of its importance is that among the ruins of Casas del Turuñuelo they have been recovered the first reliefs of human faces from Tartessos, which among other things confirms that this ancient culture was not aniconic. Are they your only findings? No. Since surveys began in the area in 2014, the Guareña site has not ceased to amaze us, becoming a real box of surprises… and an archaeological treasure. This explains, among other things, that from the Institute of Archeology (CSIC-Junta de Extremadura) they will consider the creation of a work team with specialists from different disciplines and successive campaigns will be promoted. Only the first three allowed part of a majestic building with two floors, a patio and three rooms to be recovered. And what did they find? In one of these rooms (‘100’), a room of around 70 square metersthe first altar was located in the shape of a bull skin and a bathtub or sarcophagus located at the southern end, attached to the wall. Not only that. Archaeologists have rescued bone and ivory tableware and plates that once decorated a now-lost wooden box. Another area full of surprises is the interior patio, 125 m2, rectangular in plan and connected with a three-meter-high staircase. There archaeologists discovered remains of dozens and dozens of animals, probably related to sacrifices: at least 52 horses, four cows, four pigs and a dog. Bronze weights, unguent jars, remains of a Greek sculpture and bowls were also recovered in the same area. Is it a deposit further? The answer is again ‘no’. And not only for the enormous fascination that generates Tartessos. In just eight campaigns, archaeologists have obtained authentic historical jewels in Casas de Turuñuelo, such as the two ritual altars in the shape of bull skin or the sculptures of faces, “the first human representations of the Tartessian culture”, remember from the CSIC. The site also reserved for us an engraving with combat scenes on a slate plate, an alphabet from 2,500 years ago and the marble altar oldest Greek (at least among those known to date) from the western Mediterranean. Are there more surprises? Yes. As if that were not enough, the structures of the site also keep some secrets that make them unique. For example, part of the stairs that connect to the interior patio are made up of steps made from lime mortar ashlars. It may seem like a minor detail until you discover what it represents. the oldest example known throughout the Iberian Peninsula for “manufacturing lime in an anthropic manner”. The big question now is what treasures remain to surface in Casas del Turuñuelo. Images | Building Tartessus, Junta of Extremadura and CSIC In Xataka | Almost 2,000 years ago a Celtiberian soldier visited the most remote frontier of the Roman Empire. Then he returned to Soria with a souvenir
