Spain is a country with a multicultural history, where even the most qualified archaeologists can discover places, artifacts and stories that change all knowledge. previous knowledge about a certain topic. When researchers excavated the Pozo Moro tomb, they couldn’t believe the incredible connections between the characteristic styles of Iberian, Hittite, and Syrian art.
Via Augusta is a famous ancient Roman road passing through the cities of Gades (Cádiz), Carthago Nova (Cartagena), Valentia (Valencia), Saguntum (Sagunto), Tarraco (Tarragona), Barcino (Barcelona). Gerunda (Girona), Hispalis (Seville), Corduba (Cordoba), Emerita Augusta (Mérida), Brigantinum (A Coruña), etc. Researchers have unearthed hundreds of priceless archaeological sites around this ancient route with priceless and beautiful artifacts that shed light on the lives of people who settled in this land for millennia before. The intricate puzzle made up of pieces from the past is never-ending work, just like in the Augean Stables. These sites are filled with precious buried finds in such staggering quantities that it seems impossible to dig them all out of the ground.
Map of the Iberian Peninsula in 125 including important roads, legionary sites and gold/silver mines. ( Public Domain ) Note Via Augusta is called ‘Via Herculea’ on this map.
The discovery of a forgotten story
Excavations in Spain are often like a mixed box of chocolates – filled with surprising cultural flavors. In the case of the Pozo Moro site, this is a remarkable cemetery, a huge ancient necropolis. It is located approximately 125 km (77.67 mi) off the Mediterranean coast and at an altitude of 840 meters (2755.91 ft.) above sea level. This location seems to have been very meaningful to the people who created it some 2,500 years ago. It has to do with their beliefs.
Pozo Moro Monument in Museo Arqueológico Nacional, Madrid, Spain. (Arqueológico Nacional Museum)
During excavations in 1970, researchers discovered a surprising burial site known as the Pozo Moro Mausoleum. Research into Iberia’s pre-Roman culture was quite advanced for its time, but many questionable elements and gaps remained. The first shocking fact is that the Mausoleum dates back to a mysterious period. But as researchers continued their work, experts discovered a huge amount of information that changed knowledge about the history of the province of Albacete, where this site is located.
Excavations at the site. ( sentesotericos )
Explore the tomb
The miraculous mausoleum is known to be the oldest Iberian burial monument. It dates back to around 500 BC and belonged to a forgotten king. Parts of the mausoleum are scattered across a plot measuring 12 by 12 meters (39 by 39 ft). When researchers carefully collected all the remaining pieces, they brought it to the Museo Arqueológico Nacional de España in Madrid, where they recreated it. The process was long and very complicated, but thanks to their impressive knowledge, the mausoleum was able to be restored after many centuries.
Scene of the scene during excavation. ( iberosalbacetemurcia.es )
It is known that it was built by an Iberian king but a lot of other information has been lost. The mausoleum is made of rectangular blocks. Overall, the structure is about 10 meters (32 ft.) high and its walls are beautifully decorated with images of gods. It has a square three-tiered platform nearly 4 meters (13 ft.) wide. Furthermore, four lions are placed around the mausoleum. All of this has created the image of a mausoleum imbued with the traditions of Middle Eastern countries. Research shows clear influences of Syrian and Hittite art.
Detail of one of the lions. (Luis García/ CC BY SA 3.0 )
“Cremation of the remains along with the body leaves us with little to study, but the remains are enough to give some guidance. Remaining objects were made from different raw materials (at least ceramics, gold, silver, bronze, iron and bone; see Almagro-Gorbea 1983: 184 ff.). However, there were no pieces of iron that could be identified as weapons, although the remains were in very poor condition. One still finds the same type of ritual described above for the Orientalizing Period, but with a different emphasis: the bronze vase is now Greek rather than Oriental in design and manufacture. , and the copper brazier was replaced by a kylix in the attic of the Pithos group of painters. Ultimately, this philosophical prince was buried with a lekythos in the attic instead of plaster perfume bottles. Overall, it seems that Greek influence began to replace the earlier Orientalized (Semitic) tradition. Finally, the burial I have described was placed under a turifonn funerary monument of a grand scale and decoration of which more will be said later.” (s.17)
Several Greek artifacts were discovered at the Pozo Moro site. Sources from left: (Miguel Hermoso Cuesta/ CC BY SA 4.0 ), (Miguel Hermoso Cuesta/ CC BY SA 4.0 ) and (Miguel Hermoso Cuesta/ CC BY SA 4.0 )
Burial was probably related to a new concept of power supported by long-distance travel and war campaigns. It remains unclear how many different aspects of cultures from the entire Mediterranean region blended into Iberia, and it reflects a range of significant influences. This incredible monument remains an unsolved mystery to followers of ancient dynasties – it dates back to long ago before the creation of chronicles to further explain the people who built it. build it.
Footsteps of ancient artists
One of the most challenging aspects of the monument is rebuilding the lost parts and renovating the remaining parts. However, there are still many questions that need to be answered. One of the most intriguing has to do with the tomb’s true purpose. Some researchers believe that it did not belong to any living ruler, but instead it may have had symbolic significance. Perhaps it was a religious monument or a burial place created for a deity? However, this seems unlikely. According to tradition, researchers believe that the Pozo Moro Mausoleum is actually the burial place of a king of the lost Iberian dynasty.
Another relief on the monument. (Jorge/ CC BY NC SA 2.0 )
