Badajoz (Spain).- Researchers from the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) have found the oldest Greek marble altar in the western Mediterranean within the work being carried out at the Tartessian site of Casas del Turuñuelo, in Guareña (Badajoz) -southwest of Spain-.
The piece, which is column-shaped and demonstrates the significant role of this settlement in Mediterranean trade during the Tartessian period, in the 5th century BC, was presented this Friday by the team of archaeologists and the Minister of Culture of the regional Government of Extremadura, Victoria Bazaga.
Furthermore, the excavations of the main building have revealed a work intended for hydraulic channeling that reveals the technical capabilities of the Tartessian builders.
The co-director of the excavation, Sebastián Celestino, explained that the site "continues to be the jewel of Tartessian architecture due to the enormous amount of information it provides".
He added that this year a pre-construction channeling of the building has been found, more than a meter high, which brings closer to the full Tartessos of the classical era, like the one that occurs in the Guadalquivir area.
For her part, Esther Rodríguez, also co-director, highlighted that the discovered altar is about 60 centimeters in diameter at its base and an approximate height of one and a half meters.
According to preliminary analyses, "it is Proconnesian marble, in present-day Turkey, and it is the first piece documented with that antiquity from Asia Minor found in this area."
He added that his finding "once again demonstrates the political and economic importance of this enclave".
Regarding the progress of the excavations, Sebastián Celestino pointed out that around 50 percent of the site has already been excavated at this time.
The Minister of Culture, Victoria Bazaga, stressed that Turuñuelo is now "the center of global scientific research and this site is of great importance", and has reaffirmed the Board's commitment to ensure that heritage is "an engine for development and these sites can be seen".
Similarly, he confirmed that the works intended to be undertaken in this enclave will begin "shortly".
For his part, the Secretary General of Science, Technology and Innovation, Javier De Francisco, valued the "level of the researchers, who are a world reference, and every year they achieve a new milestone worthy of mention". He announced a budget increase of an additional 236,000 euros until 2026 to continue the work.
Finally, the CSIC delegate in Extremadura and Andalusia, Margarita Paneque, endorsed the institution's support for the work and described the collaboration between administrations and research to preserve this heritage as "good news."
Spanish
