7 July 2025 The Future is the Product of the Past

Archaeologists Uncover Oldest Greek Marble Altar in Western Mediterranean at Tartessian Site in Spain

The discovery of the Oldest Greek Marble Altar in the Western Mediterranean offers unprecedented insight into Tartessian culture and its connection to ancient Mediterranean civilizations.

Casas del Turuñuelo, a major Tartessian archaeological site in Spain’s Badajoz province, continues to astonish the academic world. In its latest excavation campaign, researchers from the Institute of Archaeology of Mérida (IAM, CSIC-Government of Extremadura) have discovered what is now considered the oldest Greek marble altar ever found in the western Mediterranean.

A Rare Marble Column with Greek Origins

At the heart of this groundbreaking discovery is a marble column altar, analyzed by expert Anna Gutiérrez from the Catalan Institute of Classical Archaeology (ICAC). The column, composed of a base and shaft, has been traced to the island of Marmara (ancient Proconnesus) in Asia Minor—part of the ancient Greek world. Dated to the 5th century BCE, the altar is unique in its material: Asian marble, a rarity in inland Iberia.

This makes it the only known Greek altar of its kind in the region, according to excavation leaders Esther Rodríguez González and Sebastián Celestino Pérez. Its ceremonial placement among luxury items like Attic ceramic cups and a bronze potter’s wheel reinforces the building’s ritualistic importance.

The marble column unearthed at the Casas del Turuñuelo site. Credit: Construyendo Tarteso Project (IAM-CSIC).
The marble column unearthed at the Casas del Turuñuelo site. Credit: Construyendo Tarteso Project (IAM-CSIC).

A New Chapter in Tartessian Archaeology

Located in the Vegas Altas region near the Guadiana River, Casas del Turuñuelo has emerged as a cultural and architectural marvel. Previous finds include Macedonian glass, Pentelic marble sculpture fragments, and one of the largest ritual animal sacrifices ever recorded in Western Europe.

The discovery of this altar deep in the Iberian Peninsula, far from typical coastal trade routes, offers new insight into Tartessos‘ role in Mediterranean exchange networks. It challenges the traditional notion of Tartessos as a passive recipient of Greek and Phoenician culture—revealing instead a society of complexity, political power, and spiritual sophistication.

Advanced Engineering and Specialized Craftsmanship

In addition to the altar, the site’s seventh excavation campaign revealed six new rooms, including exterior areas dedicated to production and storage. Artifacts like kilns, loom weights, grain mills, and a rare bronze potter’s wheel highlight the site’s economic activities. A newly uncovered hydraulic system, nearly a meter high and constructed prior to the main building, points to advanced pre-Roman engineering skills.

Preservation and Research Potential

Thanks to exceptional preservation, Casas del Turuñuelo provides rare insight into Iron Age construction techniques, including the use of adobe in monumental architecture—a focus of the Construyendo Tarteso (Building Tartessos) research project funded by Spain’s Ministry of Science.

Supported by the Government of Extremadura, Badajoz Provincial Council, and the MAPFRE Foundation, the site has been a cornerstone of Tartessian studies for nearly a decade. Notable milestones include the 2017 discovery of a mass horse and oxen sacrifice, the 2023 revelation of human depictions in Tartessian art, and a 2024 slate plaque featuring what may be an early Paleohispanic alphabet.

The Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)

Cover Image Credit: General view of the Tartessian archaeological site of Casas del Turuñuelo in Badajoz, Spain. Construyendo Tarteso Project (IAM-CSIC).

Related Articles

A 2,000-year-old ancient “mirror” throws light on aristocratic life in China

17 May 2022

17 May 2022

Archeologists in Beijing have successfully reconstructed a 2,000-year-ago dressing mirror once cherished by the high nobility during the Han Dynasty....

A Christian monastery, possibly pre-dating Islam, found in UAE

6 November 2022

6 November 2022

A Christian monastery has been discovered on the island of Siniyah off the coast of the United Arab Emirates (UAE),...

Roman-Era Sarcophagus Discovered on Varna Beach one of Bulgaria’s Most Popular Tourist Destinations

26 July 2024

26 July 2024

An ancient sarcophagus from the Roman era was discovered by chance on the beach near the resort of Saints Constantine...

A very Rare Medieval Pocket Sundial Discovered in Germany

31 July 2023

31 July 2023

A rare Medieval sundial, which is approximately the size of a matchbox was discovered in the old town of Marburg,...

After 150 years, Schliemann’s destruction in Troy was repaired

8 August 2021

8 August 2021

Heinrich Schliemann, a German businessman, excavated the ancient city of Troy in northwest Canakkale province 150 years ago. Archaeologists are...

The Earliest Evidence of a Domesticated Dog in the Arabian Peninsula

9 April 2021

9 April 2021

Dogs have been the best friend of humans since ancient times. Although it is not known exactly when dogs were...

Paleonursery offers a detailed glimpse at life 518 million years ago

6 July 2021

6 July 2021

Fossilized specimens of thousands of undersea animals buried under a sedimentary avalanche 518 million years ago have been found near...

Ancient Bone Flute Discovered in Iran Offers Rare Glimpse into 8,000-Year-Old Musical Traditions

29 June 2025

29 June 2025

The National Museum of Iran has launched an exciting initiative in collaboration with the Public Relations Department of the Ministry...

From Researchers, a New İnterpretation of Norse Religion

26 February 2021

26 February 2021

Recent research on pre-Christian Norse religions shows that the variation in Norse religions is far greater than previously imagined. Ten...

Rare Tales of Merlin and King Arthur Found in 13th Century Manuscript

17 April 2025

17 April 2025

In a remarkable discovery, a fragile manuscript fragment dating back to the 13th century has been found hidden within the...

Megalithic structure found in Kazakhstan was probably a place of worship for miners in the Bronze Age

2 September 2024

2 September 2024

Archaeologists investigating a megalithic monument in the Burabay district of the Akmola region of Kazakhstan have revealed that the monument...

İnteresting Relief on the Roman Millstone

20 February 2021

20 February 2021

During the Cambridgeshire A14 road improvement work, workers found an interesting millstone. A large penis was engraved in the Roman-era...

HS2 archaeologists discover Romanization of Iron Age village in Britain

12 January 2022

12 January 2022

Archaeologists have uncovered a vast Roman trading town on Britain’s HS2 high-speed rail route. Evidence found during a dig of...

Archaeologists discovered on Tunisian coast three shipwrecks, one of which 2,000 years old

8 June 2023

8 June 2023

A team of archaeologists from eight countries—Algeria, Croatia, Egypt, France, Italy, Morocco, Spain, and Tunisia bordering the Mediterranean Sea has...

The very unknown ancient city of the Mediterranean; Syedra

3 July 2022

3 July 2022

Known as Turkey’s holiday paradise, the Antalya region is a treasure when it comes to ancient cities. Close to the...

Comments
Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *