A research team led by the National University of Distance Education (UNED) has made an archaeological discovery of great significance at the La Bienvenida-Sisapo site, located in Almodóvar del Campo, Ciudad Real (Spain). This finding is transforming our understanding of the expansion of Tartessian culture into the interior of the Iberian Peninsula during the Iron Age.
The excavations, carried out as part of recent archaeological heritage research initiatives in Castilla-La Mancha, have brought to light the remains of an imposing religious building of Eastern tradition, whose construction dates back to the 7th century BCE. This discovery not only confirms the presence of Tartessians in the region but also provides evidence of their search for new mineral resources beyond their traditional core territory.
The sanctuary, strategically situated on an elevated position next to a volcanic formation known as the eastern “castillejo” of La Bienvenida, displays a series of architectural and ritual characteristics that directly link it to other religious centers of the Phoenician-Tartessian sphere.
Among the most remarkable elements is a ceremonial altar shaped like an outstretched bull’s hide, a typical feature of Tartessian sanctuaries that has been documented at other significant sites such as Caura (modern-day Coria del Río, Seville) and Malaka (Málaga).
The meticulous archaeological work has allowed researchers to identify different phases of the building’s use, spanning from the mid-7th to the mid-6th century BCE. The findings document how the sacred space underwent successive renovations, always following a careful process of dismantling, cleaning, and preparation for new constructions—demonstrating the deep respect and importance this site held for its users.
The recovered archaeological material has provided an extraordinary set of evidence confirming both the religious function of the building and its connections to the Mediterranean world. Among the most significant discoveries are fragments of Proto-Corinthian Greek ceramics, used in ritual banquets, and a chardon vessels, large containers associated with the worship of the Phoenician goddess Astarte.
Additionally, basalt baetyls representing deities have been found, along with various elements related to metallurgical activities, such as crucibles, tuyères, and copper and lead slag.
One of the most revealing aspects of the discovery has been the identification of a ritual dump containing highly manipulated bone remains from various animals, along with symbolic elements such as marine shells and modified goat astragali, possibly used in divinatory practices.
This assemblage provides valuable insight into the ritual practices and economic foundations of the protohistoric population of Sisapo.
The discovery has significant implications for understanding the process of urbanization in the inland peninsula. According to Professor Mar Zarzalejos Prieto, the project’s lead researcher, this finding demonstrates that the foundation of Sisapo was part of a Tartessian strategy to control the area’s mineral resources—including silver, lead, cinnabar, mercury, and copper—and integrate them into Mediterranean trade networks under Phoenician influence.
The ongoing research is being conducted by a multidisciplinary team, including experts from UNED, the Autonomous University of Madrid, and other institutions, with financial support from the Junta de Castilla-La Mancha, the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, and the Almodóvar del Campo City Council.
The results of this project are not only shedding light on a crucial period of the peninsula’s protohistory but are also helping to better understand the early Iberization processes that would eventually lead to the development of the Oretan culture in later centuries.
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