Â鶹ÒùÔº

Historians have long viewed Carpetania, an ancient district in what is now the Iberian Peninsula, Spain, as a passive player in the cultural landscape of the Late Iron Age. Its cultural development has been characterized as a product of borrowing or imitating artistic artifacts and architecture from more influential neighboring regions. A recent study led by a team of researchers from Spain and the U.K. studied decorative terracotta items from the area—a closer look at them revealed a different story.

The terracotta relief uncovered at the El Cerrón archaeological site displayed a style deeply influenced by "Mediterraneanizing" artistic traditions. This discovery prompted researchers to re-evaluate long-held assumptions, arguing that the local elite of the Carpetania region was actively involved in shaping the cultural landscape not only of the Iberian Peninsula but also of the wider Mediterranean during this pivotal period. The findings are in Antiquity.

The concept of Mediterraneanization, introduced by archaeologist and historian Ian Morris in 2003, describes the spread of cultures in the ancient Mediterranean world in a way similar to globalization. The widespread acceptance of this concept triggered a cascading effect, leading to a rising interest in revisiting long-standing ideas about the region and the interactions between coastal and inland areas during the first millennium BC.

The researchers of this study were keen on confronting biases that have influenced Mediterranean interaction studies, especially regarding areas traditionally considered marginal. For instance, many scholarly interpretations have classified El Cerrón as a Celtiberian hillfort, a fortified settlement built by the Celtic population in Iberia, based on the architectural structures and pottery found in the region.

Studies have also placed Carpetania within broader Celtic or southern Iberian cultural spheres without acknowledging the region's internal agency or the influential role of local elites in shaping cultural practices.

The researchers critically re-evaluated published evidence around elite artifacts and architecture discovered at El Cerrón and examined three structures featuring stone foundations and mudbrick walls, built in a vernacular style characteristic of the site.

The central focus was on a terracotta relief uncovered in Structure 2—a fragment vividly depicts a parade scene featuring a griffin, two charioteers, a standing human figure, and accompanying horses. Apart from this, researchers also collected pottery, metal artifacts and animal bones from the site.

The stratigraphic position of the site, combined with radiocarbon dating of the artifacts, revealed three continuous phases of Late Iron Age occupation. The relief was likely placed in Structure 2 during the site's second occupation phase, between the mid and late 4th century BC.

The findings indicate that the relief may have originally been part of a larger structure, suggesting it was repurposed rather than created specifically for its current location. Or, it might have once adorned an elite residence or a nearby cultic site, although no such structure has yet been discovered. The imagery, depicting scenes such as parades or processions, closely resembled terracotta plaques from the 6th–5th century BC in central Italy, thus reflecting a connection between the cultures.

The researchers noted that by the Late Iron Age, Carpetania was deeply connected to the Mediterranean and northern Iberian trade and cultural networks. Local elites actively adopted and adapted foreign customs and goods, likely to enhance their status and authority, and the terracotta relief found at El Cerrón is a testament to these influences.

Written for you by our author , edited by , and fact-checked and reviewed by —this article is the result of careful human work. We rely on readers like you to keep independent science journalism alive. If this reporting matters to you, please consider a (especially monthly). You'll get an ad-free account as a thank-you.

© 2025 Science X Network