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New Insights into the Radiocarbon Chronology of Iberian Megalithic Societies: The tholos-type Tombs of Mojácar (Almería, Spain)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 September 2020

Gonzalo Aranda Jiménez Open the ORCID record for Gonzalo Aranda Jiménez [Opens in a new window] ,
María Dolores Camalich Massieu Open the ORCID record for María Dolores Camalich Massieu [Opens in a new window] ,
Dimas Martín Socas Open the ORCID record for Dimas Martín Socas [Opens in a new window] ,
Marta Díaz-Zorita Bonilla Open the ORCID record for Marta Díaz-Zorita Bonilla [Opens in a new window] ,
Derek Hamilton Open the ORCID record for Derek Hamilton [Opens in a new window]  and
Lara Milesi Open the ORCID record for Lara Milesi [Opens in a new window]
Gonzalo Aranda Jiménez
Affiliation:
Department of Prehistory and Archaeology, University of Granada, Spain
María Dolores Camalich Massieu
Affiliation:
Department of Geography and History, University of La Laguna, Tenerife
Dimas Martín Socas
Affiliation:
Department of Geography and History, University of La Laguna, Tenerife
Marta Díaz-Zorita Bonilla
Affiliation:
Institut für Ur- und Frühgeschichte und Archäologie des Mittelalter, and SFB1070 Ressourcenkulturen, University of Tübingen, Germany
Derek Hamilton
Affiliation:
Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre, East Kilbride, UK
Lara Milesi
Affiliation:
Department of Prehistory and Archaeology, University of Granada, Spain
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Abstract

In 2012, the authors undertook a radiocarbon dating programme to explore the chronology of southern Iberian megalithic societies. Thirty new radiocarbon dates were obtained for two tholos-type tombs, Loma de Belmonte and Loma del Campo 2, and analysed within a Bayesian framework. Results are discussed in the context of the prehistoric societies of the region and four main conclusions were reached: i) in both tombs, mortuary activity started in the last century of the fourth millennium although with significant differences in their timespan; ii) funerary rituals ended in Loma de Belmonte at least five centuries later than in Loma del Campo 2; iii) the tholoi can be considered the most recent type of tomb compared to other megalithic monuments with mortuary activity beginning in the first centuries of the fourth millennium; iv) the largest and most prominent settlement of the region, Las Pilas, was closely associated with this funerary and sacred landscape.

En 2012, un programme de datation radiocarbone fut mis sur pied afin d‘explorer la chronologie des sociétés mégalithiques du sud de la péninsule ibérique. Trente nouvelles dates radiocarbone furent obtenues pour deux tombes à tholos, Loma de Belmonte et Loma del Campo 2, et traitées par modélisation Bayésienne. Les résultats sont évalués dans le contexte des sociétés préhistoriques régionales, ce qui mène aux conclusions suivantes: i) pour les deux tombes, l'activité mortuaire a débuté au dernier siècle du IVe millénaire av. J.-C. avec cependant des différences significatives dans leur durée; ii) les rites funéraires s'achèvent à Loma de Belmonte au moins cinq siècles plus tard qu’à Loma del Campo 2; iii) les tholoi peuvent être considérés comme les types de tombes les plus récents par rapport aux autres monuments mégalithiques utilisés à des fins mortuaires dans les premiers siècles du IVe millénaire; iv) le site d'habitat le plus étendu et remarquable de la région, Las Pilas, était situé à proximité de ces territoires funéraires et sacrés. Translation by Dorothée Drucker.

Im Jahr 2012, wurde ein Radiokarbondatierungsprogramm durchgeführt, um eine Chronologie der südlichen Megalithkultur der Iberischen Halbinsel zu gewinnen. Dreißig neue Radiokarbondaten aus zwei Tholos-Gräbern in Loma de Belmonte und Loma del Campo 2 wurden erhalten und in einem Bayes'schen Modell analysiert. Die Ergebnisse werden im Kontext der prähistorischen Gesellschaften der untersuchten Region diskutiert und vier Hauptschlussfolgerungen werden erreicht: i) in beiden Gräbern begann der Bestattungsbrauch im letzten Jahrhundert des 4. Jahrtausends, wenn auch mit signifikanten Unterschieden in ihrer Zeitspanne; ii) die Bestattungsrituale endeten in Loma de Belmonte mindestens fünf Jahrhunderte später als in Loma del Campo 2; iii) die Tholoi können als der jüngste Typ von Gräbern im Vergleich zu anderen Arten von Megalithdenkmälern angesehen werden, welche in den ersten Jahrhunderten des 4. Jahrtausends auftauchten; iv) die größte und bekannteste Siedlung der Gegend, Las Pilas, war in enger Verbindung mit dieser Gräber- und Sakrallandschaft. Translation by Marta Díaz-Zorita Bonilla.

En 2012 iniciamos un programa de datación radiocarbónica para explorar la cronología de las sociedades megalíticas del sur de la Península Ibérica. Como parte de este programa, se han obtenido treinta nuevas dataciones para dos tumbas tipo tholos, Loma de Belmonte y Loma del Campo 2, que han sido modeladas utilizando la estadística bayesiana. Los resultados discutidos en el contexto de las sociedades prehistóricas de la región permiten establecer cuatro conclusiones principales: i) la actividad funeraria comenzó en ambas tumbas en el último siglo del cuarto milenio, aunque con diferencias significativas en el periodo de uso; ii) las prácticas funerarias finalizaron en Loma de Belmonte al menos cinco siglos después que en Loma del Campo 2; iii) los tholoi pueden considerarse el tipo de tumba más reciente en comparación con otros monumentos megalíticos cuya actividad mortuoria comienza en los primeros siglos del cuarto milenio; iv) el asentamiento más grande e importante de la región, Las Pilas, se localizó en estrecha asociación con este paisaje funerario y sagrado. Translation by the authors.

Keywords

Iberian Peninsularadiocarbon datingchronological modellingfunerary ritualmegalithic societiesPéninsule ibériquedatation radiocarbonemodélisation chronologiquerites funérairessociétés mégalithiquesIberische HalbinselRadiokohlenstoffdatierungchronologische ModellierungBestattungsritualMegalithgesellschaftenPenínsula Ibéricadatación radiocarbónicamodelado cronológicoritual funerariosociedades megalíticas
Type
Article
Information
European Journal of Archaeology , Volume 24 , Issue 1 , February 2021 , pp. 4 - 26
Copyright
Copyright © European Association of Archaeologists 2020

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