Bronze age palace and grave goods discovered at the archaeological site of La Almoloya in Pliego, Mu

Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona


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 to1550 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.
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Klik^ for much more life may have been much more sophisticated in Bronze age Iberia than previously thought I didn't see any exact date maybe they will give it later.

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.

What do you suppose they mean by "flexed position"? (I bolded it. Just so people know it wasnt that way in the actual article in the link)

a reply to: Spider879


Sorry beat you to it spider
www.abovetopsecret.com...

originally posted by: punkinworks10
Found some pics,


A silver rimmed ceramic cup

The grave of the pair.

The "civic center"

and the site

originally posted by: 3n19m470

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.

What do you suppose they mean by "flexed position"? (I bolded it. Just so people know it wasnt that way in the actual article in the link)

By flexed , they mean the bodies were curled into am almost fetal position, before they were buried in a jar.

a reply to: punkinworks10

NUFF RESPECT: