Excavations at the Casas del Turuñuelo site in Guareña have revealed the first reliefs of human faces from the Tartessian culture. This discovery, dated between the 9th and 5th centuries BC, dismantles the old theory that Tartessos was an aniconic civilization. The site is consolidating itself as a key location for understanding their religious practices and social organization.
The Altar of Casas del Turuñuelo: A 3D Archaeological Laboratory 🏛️
Researchers have documented the altar using high-resolution photogrammetry and laser scanning, generating three-dimensional models that allow studying every detail without touching the stone. Analysis of organic residues through chromatography and mass spectrometry has identified traces of animal fat and pollen, indicating possible libation rituals. Carbon-14 dating of associated strata places the altar in the 6th century BC, providing a precise chronology for the sequence of use of the sacred space.
Confirmed: The Tartessians Were Not Fans of Abstract Art 😂
It turns out that the Tartessians, whom some considered mystics without images, sculpted faces like someone taking a selfie. The discovery proves that their visual culture was more complex than previously thought. In other words, while some historians theorized about their aniconism, they were carving profile portraits. In the next campaign, with a bit of luck, we will find their Tinder profiles.