New Insights into the Radiocarbon Chronology of Iberian Megalithic Societies: The tholos-type Tombs of Mojácar (Almería, Spain)

In 2012, the authors undertook a radiocarbon dating programme to explore the chronology of southern Iberian megalithic societies. Thirty new radiocarbon dates were obtained for two tholos-type tombs, Loma de Belmonte and Loma del Campo 2, and analysed within a Bayesian framework. Results are discuss...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:European journal of archaeology 2021-02, Vol.24 (1), p.4-26
Main Authors: Aranda Jiménez, Gonzalo, Camalich Massieu, María Dolores, Martín Socas, Dimas, Díaz-Zorita Bonilla, Marta, Hamilton, Derek, Milesi, Lara
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
20th century
Archaeology
Bayesian analysis
Carbon dating
Cemeteries
Excavation
Flores, Pedro
Grave goods
Human remains
Memorials & monuments
Rites & ceremonies
Statistical analysis
Teeth
Tombs
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Summary:In 2012, the authors undertook a radiocarbon dating programme to explore the chronology of southern Iberian megalithic societies. Thirty new radiocarbon dates were obtained for two tholos-type tombs, Loma de Belmonte and Loma del Campo 2, and analysed within a Bayesian framework. Results are discussed in the context of the prehistoric societies of the region and four main conclusions were reached: i) in both tombs, mortuary activity started in the last century of the fourth millennium although with significant differences in their timespan; ii) funerary rituals ended in Loma de Belmonte at least five centuries later than in Loma del Campo 2; iii) the tholoi can be considered the most recent type of tomb compared to other megalithic monuments with mortuary activity beginning in the first centuries of the fourth millennium; iv) the largest and most prominent settlement of the region, Las Pilas, was closely associated with this funerary and sacred landscape.
ISSN:1461-9571
1741-2722
DOI:10.1017/eaa.2020.41