La Almoloya

La Almoloya is an archaeological site in the southeast corner of the Iberian Peninsula in modern-day Spain. It is a principal site of study for the bronze-age El Argar culture that flourished from about 2200 BC to 1500 BC and controlled territory in Iberia that is equivalent in size to modern Belgium.[1][2]

The site includes the find of what is described as an "especially rich" grave 38, which was excavated beginning in 2014. It contains the skeletal remains of a woman and a man. The vast majority of the grave goods are associated with the woman; it contains numerous silver grave goods, including a diadem.[3] The couple is buried beneath the floor of a large building. Radiocarbon dating suggests the burial took place at approximately 1700 BC. Remains of a female infant who was a first-degree descendant of the couple was found in a separate grave at the site.[1]

The silver treasure associated with the woman in grave 38 has been valued at tens of thousands of dollars.[4] The graves of other high-ranking Argaric women discovered at the site also contained silver treasure, suggesting they had powerful political status in the society.[4]

These discoveries are resulting in the need to re-evaluate the role of women in Early Bronze Age Europe.[1]

According to Lull et al., the building above the grave may be one of the earliest Bronze Age palaces identified in Western Europe.[1] It has been described as a large hall, with benches built into the sides, a podium in front of a hearth for heat and lighting, and seating for 50 people. Unique among the hundreds of buildings excavated in the study of El Argar culture, the hall appears to have been a place for the conduct of politics.[2]