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- Preface: Studies of Ancient Textiles in Spain(2020) Alfaro Giner, Carmen
- Tracing textile production in the Bronze Age- Early Iron Age Iberian Peninsula: an introduction(2020) Gleba, MargaritaEste artículo proporciona una visión general de la conservación de tejidos, las técnicas analíticas, la secuencia de producción y los contextos de producción en la Edad del Bronce y del Hierro de la Península Ibérica. El objetivo es servir de base terminológica y como una introducción a las diferentes etapas de la producción textil, así como a diversas fuentes y métodos que pueden iluminar nuestra comprensión de los tejidos y su papel económico, social e histórico en la antigua Península Ibérica.
- Shellfish purple production in Iberia and the Balearic Islands in the Pre-roman period: archaeological evidence in its mediterranean context(2020) García Vargas, EnriqueEste trabajo pretende sintetizar las evidencias arqueológicas conocidas hasta hoy sobre la producción de purpura marina en la Iberia fenicia y púnica desde los mismos inicios de la colonización fenicia (siglo IX a. C.) hasta la presencia romana en la región (fines del s. III a. C.). Con carácter previo a la presentación y estudio de la evidencia arqueológica se realiza un estudio tecnológico (incluyendo métodos de pesca de los moluscos purpurígenos), bioquímico y arqueográfico acerca de la tecnología de la producción de púrpura en la Antigüedad. Igualmente, para facilitar la contextualización tecno-cultural y geográfica de la evidencia ibérica se presentan y describen brevemente los principales establecimientos conocidos de fabricación de tinte púrpura en el Mediterráneo prerromano y sus instalaciones industriales.
- Technology and production of reddish purple vegetable dye in the Bronze Age and Iron Age: written sources and textile remains in the Iberian Peninsula(2020) Martínez García, María JuliaThe knowledge of dyeing techniques dates back to very early times; colour has been an important part of the most ancient cultures. Red hue dyes, such as reddish purple, have played an important role as distinctive marks of social and religious status, especially since these may have been intimately connected to the symbolism and archetype of blood from prehistoric times. Threads dyed in red shades have been found in some Neolithic settlements in the Middle East, in ancient Mesopotamia and at Charavines, Isère, France (c. 2450 BC). Due to their early date, there are no written sources which describe the exact nature of the colourants used for reddish purple ancient textile remains. It is likely that the inhabitants of the Iberian Peninsula, during the Bronze Age, also dyed their clothes in a reddish purple colour - as found with other Mediterranean cultures. Since no records of the raw material exist, we can only speculate about material used and the methods of extraction required to obtain such dyes. To develop an understanding of this process, this paper reviews the oldest written sources concerning these dyes, together with the information about the dyes obtained through dye analysis of the extant ancient textiles. These considerations leave little doubt that the natural dyes used for reddish purple dye were primarily of local origin and therefore autochthons to the Iberian Peninsula.
- Exploitation of secundar products at the Phoenician site of Teatro Cómico, Cádiz (Spain)(2020) Estaca-Gómez, Verónica; Yravedra Sainz de los Terreros, José; Linares-Matás, Gonzalo; Gener Basallote, José María; Navarro García, María de los Ángeles; Pajuelo Sáez, Juan Miguel; Torres Ortiz, MarianoThe macrovertebrate zooarchaeological analyses carried out at the Phoenician site of Teatro Cómico (Cádiz) show a predominance of mixed herds of sheep and goat. The patterns derived from the study of the mortality profiles seem to suggest the importance of wool and milk production. In addition to sheep and goat, we have also documented the presence of bovids, suids, equids, dogs, and cats. Animal remains can provide further information about the socio-economic activities taking place at the site. The scarce number of remains from wild species, such as deer, suggest that the exploitation of wild resources was rather limited. Lastly, it is also worth highlighting the presence of Hexaplestrunculus, used in the production of purple dye. Together, the evidence presented in this paper indicates that secondary products had an important socio-economic role at the Teatro Cómico site, and that both trading and production were important economic dimensions of the Phoenician world.
- Functionality and economic uses of animals in Early Iron Age Central Iberia(2020) Estaca-Gómez, VerónicaDiscussions about herding economy during the Early Iron Age in central Iberia are still rather limited in historiographic research due to the reduced number and low representation of the faunal samples available. The use of zooarchaeological and taphonomic methodology to analyse a series of samples from recently studied sites resulted in a comprehensive summary of the use of fauna in these societies. Conclusions led to a contrasted interpretation of the functionality and use of domestic animals during the Early Iron Age in the Tajo middle valley, presenting them as more than mere food supplies.
- Significance of textile production the Argaric Culture (Spain)(2020) Jover Maestre, Francisco Javier; López Padilla, Juan Antonio; Basso Rial, Ricardo E.In recent decades, research on the Bronze Age in the Southeast of the Iberian Peninsula has focused mainly on analysis of the processes of hierarchy and social development. The valued archaeological indicators have been very diverse: from the ceramic and metallurgical specialization, to the normalization of funeral practices or the settlement pattern. However, only in recent years the importance of textile production in these processes has begun to be considered. With the present work we intend to evaluate the importance of this basic and fundamental craft, assessing the set of labor processes involved, the degree of specialization achieved, and the social value granted to textile products in the Bronze Age culture of El Argar.
- Among threads and looms. Maintenance activities in the Iberian societies: the case of El Cerro de la Plaza de Armas de Puente Tablas (Jaén)(2020) Rísquez Cuenca, Carmen; Rueda Galán, Carmen; Herranz Sánchez, Ana B.; Vílchez Suárez, MíriamIn this paper we revise and re-interpret some of the areas in the oppidum of Puente Tablas (Jaén) for the Iberian phase (late 5th-3rd century BC), focusing on the evidence of textile weaving. In this case, we aim to analyse this activity as a productive function, endowing it with the value it merits as part of the so-called maintenance activities, linking it not only to the social sphere, but also to those of the economy and culture. In particular, this article focuses on the analysis of hitherto unpublished complexes and contexts associated with this Iberian oppidum. This analysis is crucial since the empirical base is fundamental for inferring interpretations associated with these activities. The analysis of the various selected archaeological contexts provides us information about the wide-ranging economic and social dimensions this activity acquired during this period.
- Textiles and rituality in the late Tartessian Culture of the Guadiana valley(2020) Berrocal-Rangel, Luis; Celestino Pérez, Sebastián; Rodríguez González, EstherAfter the downfall of the Guadalquivir’s Tartessian Culture at the end of the 6th century BC, the Tartessian core located along the Middle Guadiana Valley continued its cultural and economic development as a type of hybrid response, having a unique, prosperous period throughout the 5th century BC. The archaeology of this complex society is represented in Tartessic lowland buildings covered by tumuli, like the well-known examples at Cancho Roano (Zalamea de la Serena, Badajoz) and La Mata (Campanario, Badajoz). In the case of the former, remnants from textile activities like spinning and weaving are plentiful, including loom weights, spindle whorls, and metal and bone needles, as well as pins. Textile fibres were not recovered; however, recent finds provide insight into the technical and ritual meanings of textiles in these unique contexts. An example of this are the discoveries at the Casas del Turuñuelo site (Guareña, Badajoz), a newly-excavated building under a tumulus that produced fabrics and textile tools. These new discoveries are presented herein, along with a review of prior finds to bring us new interpretations.
- Textiles and rituality in Iberian Culture(2020) Prados Torreira, Lourdes; Sánchez Moral, María ElenaThe aim of this article is to examine archaeological finds related to textile production in the Iberian Culture, particularly between the fifth and third centuries BC. We focus especially on ritual activities and consider both their presence in Iberian funerary contexts and sanctuaries and their links to activities carried out by women. We also highlight the presence and strong symbolic implications of objects related to the world of yarn making and weaving. On the one hand, the presence of these objects reveals the distinct intention of representing productive activities which, as in other Mediterranean contexts, are intimately linked to the female gender. On the other hand, and through certain images and the prominence of grave goods, these objects also envisage ideas about status, as they always appear associated with women of the aristocracy. As well as gender and social hierarchy, these symbols also represent a high level of skill in the practice of certain activities, which only a few women – all members of the most privileged groups – would be qualified to perform.
- Spinning the world: a final comment(2020) Marin-Aguilera, BeatrizThe paper provides a short discussion on textile archaeology, including historiographical notes and the explanation of the latest textile tools’ methodology, and charts new research venues for the study of textile production in Portugal and Spain. The numerous and varied research themes within textile archaeology should make archaeologists rethink the central role of textiles in the ancient Mediterranean, and the wide range of new perspectives that their analysis can bring to the study of cultural, socioeconomic, and political aspects of ancient societies in Portugal and Spain.
