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Just behind town in an unpretentious field of wild flowers is the most
important archaeological dig in the entire province of Madrid. It doesn’t look important. The archaeologists are uncovering low walls,
finding broken storage pots and identifying ho-hum items used for daily living;
weaving weights, chains, bowls and votives.
But I can tell that it is
important; I counted ten archaeologists digging today up from two several
summers ago.
What makes the dig so important, according to José Polo of Arquex, is
the value of finding each piece in its place; each bowl, each piece of pottery
or piece of metal. This Carpetano (i.e.,
pre-roman) town must have been abandoned quickly. The residents likely set fire to their homes
so that invaders could not benefit from the large amounts of grain and other
goods residents were leaving behind. The
trick worked. For thousands of years no
one benefitted; no one until now.
The most important item found in situ is the ‘Medusa’plate. This silver plate was found
in a carved out hole underneath adobe flooring.
A hidden object is not used on a daily basis and, given its intricate
design, was likely used for ritualistic purposes. This find also lets us contemplate social
aspects of Carpetanos here some 2600 years ago; they could make or buy expensive things and the hellenistic style of this piece attests to cultural and mercantile ties with ancient Greece and a well developed transportation network before Roman times.
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NB: Nov 2013, Unable to find the correct translation in English, I used the Spanish word Carpetanos. I have since discovered that the correct name in English is Carpetani.
