Archaeologists have uncovered a remarkable 2,700-year-old religious sanctuary in Spain, shedding new light on the expansion of the Tartessian civilization into the Iberian Peninsula's interior during the Iron Age. The discovery, led by a research team from Spain’s National University of Distance Education (UNED), was made at the La Bienvenida-Sisapo site in Almodóvar del Campo, Ciudad Real.
A Monumental Religious Structure
The excavation, part of an ongoing research initiative into Castilla-La Mancha’s archaeological heritage, has revealed the remains of an imposing religious structure influenced by Eastern traditions. Dating back to the 7th century BCE, the sanctuary provides crucial evidence of Tartessian presence in the region and their quest for new mineral resources beyond their traditional territories.
Strategically positioned on elevated terrain near a volcanic formation, known as the eastern "castro" of La Bienvenida, the site exhibits architectural and ritual features that closely link it to Phoenician and Tartessian religious centers.
One of the most striking elements uncovered is a ritual altar shaped like a stretched bull hide, a distinctive feature of Tartessian sanctuaries previously identified at key sites in Seville and Málaga.
A Sacred Site with a Complex History
Through meticulous archaeological investigation, researchers have traced the sanctuary’s usage phases from the mid-7th to the mid-6th century BCE. The findings reveal a sequence of careful renovations, with each reconstruction involving a deliberate process of disassembly, cleansing, and preparation for new structures—reflecting the deep reverence and spiritual significance attributed to the site by its users.
The artifacts uncovered confirm the site's religious function and its strong ties to the broader Mediterranean world. Among the most significant discoveries are fragments of Proto-Corinthian Greek ceramics, often used in ritual feasts, and large vessels associated with the worship of the Phoenician goddess Astarte.
Additionally, archaeologists have found basalt betyls—sacred stones representing deities—alongside evidence of metallurgical activities, including smelting funnels, blowpipes, and copper and lead slag.
Unveiling Ritual Practices
One of the most revealing aspects of the discovery is the identification of a ritual storage area containing the remains of various animals, which had undergone distinctive treatment. These remains were found alongside symbolic items such as seashells and modified goat knucklebones, possibly used in divination practices.
This collection of artifacts provides invaluable insights into the ceremonial traditions and economic foundations of the early inhabitants of Sisapo.
Why This Discovery Matters
The discovery has profound implications for understanding the urbanization processes of the Iberian Peninsula. According to lead researcher Professor Mar Zarzalejos Prieto, the site’s foundations suggest that Sisapo was a strategic settlement established by the Tartessians to control the region’s mineral wealth—including silver, lead, cinnabar, mercury, and copper—and integrate it into Mediterranean trade networks under Phoenician influence.
The research is being carried out by an interdisciplinary team from UNED, the Autonomous University of Madrid, and other institutions, with financial support from the Junta de Castilla-La Mancha, the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Research, and the Almodóvar del Campo City Council.
The findings not only illuminate a pivotal period in the early history of the Iberian Peninsula but also enhance our understanding of the formative processes that eventually led to the emergence of the Oretanian civilization in later centuries.
