El Argar is an
archeological site for the
Early Bronze Age Argaric culture developed in the south-eastern end of the
Iberian Peninsula
The Iberian Peninsula ( ), also known as Iberia, is a peninsula in south-western Europe. Mostly separated from the rest of the European landmass by the Pyrenees, it includes the territories of peninsular Spain and Continental Portugal, comprisin ...
which was believed to have been active from about 2200 BC to 1500 BC
Material culture
El Argar was the cultural center of the Early and Middle
Bronze Age
The Bronze Age () was a historical period characterised principally by the use of bronze tools and the development of complex urban societies, as well as the adoption of writing in some areas. The Bronze Age is the middle principal period of ...
in
Iberia
The Iberian Peninsula ( ), also known as Iberia, is a peninsula in south-western Europe. Mostly separated from the rest of the European landmass by the Pyrenees, it includes the territories of peninsular Spain and Continental Portugal, compri ...
. Metallurgy of bronze and pseudo-bronze (alloyed with
arsenic
Arsenic is a chemical element; it has Symbol (chemistry), symbol As and atomic number 33. It is a metalloid and one of the pnictogens, and therefore shares many properties with its group 15 neighbors phosphorus and antimony. Arsenic is not ...
instead of
tin) was practiced. Weapons are the main metallurgic product:
knives,
halberds,
sword
A sword is an edged and bladed weapons, edged, bladed weapon intended for manual cutting or thrusting. Its blade, longer than a knife or dagger, is attached to a hilt and can be straight or curved. A thrusting sword tends to have a straighter ...
s,
spear and
arrow points, and big
axes with curved edges are all abundant, not just in the Argaric area, but also elsewhere in Iberia.
The women at this site were buried with numerous grave goods of silver, treasure that suggests that women held high status in the society. For instance, excavation of Grave 38 began in 2014, and it contains burial goods estimated to be worth tens of thousands of dollars and included a
diadem. The burial was found below a unique building, when compared to the others excavated. The building above the grave appears to be a great hall, with benches along the sides that could seat up to 60 people. This suggests that the hall was used for politics. The grave and hall have been radiocarbon dated to approximately 1700 BC.
[Lull et al.]
"Emblems and spaces of power during the Argaric Bronze Age at La Almoloya, Murcia,"
''Antiquity'', Cambridge University Press
Cambridge University Press was the university press of the University of Cambridge. Granted a letters patent by King Henry VIII in 1534, it was the oldest university press in the world. Cambridge University Press merged with Cambridge Assessme ...
, 11 March 2021
Gallery
File:El Argar (ajuar funerario).png, Grave goods
File:Enterramiento argárico en tinaja.jpg, Typical jar burial
El Argar B
File:El Argar (craneo con diadema).png, Woman's skull
with diadem
File:Espada de Guadalajara. Bronce Pleno. 1600-1300 a. C. - M.A.N. 01.jpg, alt=, Bronze sword with gold-covered hilt
File:Hojas de alabarda y espada. Bronce Antiguo-Medio.jpg, alt=, Bronze axe and dagger blade
File:Copa argárica de arcilla (M.A.N. 1990-133-12) 01.jpg, Ceramic cup
File:El Argar M.A.N. 03.JPG, Pottery
File:Almoloya Diadema.jpg, Silver diadem from La Almoloya.
References
Bibliography
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External links
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Argar, El
Bronze Age sites in Spain
Archaeological sites in Andalusia
Agaric culture
Algarve
Ancient pottery
Almería