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Emblems and spaces of power during the Argaric Bronze Age at La Almoloya, Murcia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 March 2021

Vicente Lull ,
Cristina Rihuete-Herrada Open the ORCID record for Cristina Rihuete-Herrada [Opens in a new window] ,
Roberto Risch Open the ORCID record for Roberto Risch [Opens in a new window] ,
Bárbara Bonora ,
Eva Celdrán-Beltrán ,
Maria Inés Fregeiro ,
Claudia Molero ,
Adrià Moreno ,
Camila Oliart  and
Carlos Velasco-Felipe Open the ORCID record for Carlos Velasco-Felipe [Opens in a new window]
...Show all authors
Vicente Lull
Affiliation:
Department of Prehistory, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain
Cristina Rihuete-Herrada
Affiliation:
Department of Prehistory, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain
Roberto Risch*
Affiliation:
Department of Prehistory, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain
Bárbara Bonora
Affiliation:
Department of Prehistory, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain
Eva Celdrán-Beltrán
Affiliation:
Department of Prehistory, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain
Maria Inés Fregeiro
Affiliation:
Department of Prehistory, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain
Claudia Molero
Affiliation:
Department of Prehistory, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain
Adrià Moreno
Affiliation:
Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology, Halle, Germany
Camila Oliart
Affiliation:
Department of Prehistory, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain
Carlos Velasco-Felipe
Affiliation:
Department of Prehistory, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain
Lourdes Andúgar
Affiliation:
Department of Prehistory, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain
Wolfgang Haak
Affiliation:
Department of Archaeogenetics, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, Jena, Germany
Vanessa Villalba-Mouco
Affiliation:
Department of Archaeogenetics, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, Jena, Germany
Rafael Micó
Affiliation:
Department of Prehistory, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain
*
*Author for correspondence: ✉ robert.risch@uab.cat
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Abstract

The recent discovery of an exceptionally rich grave at La Almoloya in south-eastern Spain illuminates the political context of Early Bronze Age El Argar society. The quantity, variety and opulence of the grave goods emphasise the technological, economic and social dimensions of this unique culture. The assemblage includes politically and ideologically emblematic objects, among which a silver diadem stands out. Of equally exceptional character is the building under which the grave was found—possibly one of the first Bronze Age palaces identified in Western Europe. The architecture and artefacts from La Almoloya provide new insight into emblematic individuals and the exercise of power in societies of marked economic asymmetry.

Keywords

SpainBronze AgeEl Argarobject theorygender archaeology
Type
Research Article
Information
Antiquity , Volume 95 , Issue 380 , April 2021 , pp. 329 - 348
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Antiquity Publications Ltd.

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