Archaeologists working at the Montelirio tholos, an ancient burial site estimated to be around 5,000 years old near Seville, Spain, have unearthed what is considered the largest collection of beads discovered in a solitary grave. This extensive array includes more than 270,000 beads, primarily made from marine shells. This remarkable find offers valuable insights into the societal and technological developments of Copper Age societies in southwestern Spain.
The Montelirio tholos is situated within the larger Valencina mega-site and was first documented in 1868; however, it remained relatively unexplored until research resumed in the 1980s. The site was predominantly used for burials between approximately 2875 and 2635 BCE. One of the most famous burials at the site is that of the “Ivory Lady,” originally misidentified as a man. Her tomb contained several prestigious items, such as an ivory comb and elephant tusk, and has led researchers to reassess previous notions about women’s roles during this era. It appears she likely gained her status through personal achievements rather than inherited power.
In a recent excavation conducted roughly 330 feet north of where the Ivory Lady was buried, another significant finding emerged. Archaeologists uncovered the remains of at least 20 individuals within a burial chamber, 15 of whom have been confirmed as women. This chamber was filled with over 270,000 beads forming elaborate beaded garments—making it the largest single-burial bead assemblage ever recorded.
The majority of these beads were crafted from marine shell materials, like scallops, and were meticulously cleaned and weighed to estimate their total number. In addition to being fashioned from shell material, some beads were also made from stone and bone. Researchers concluded that manufacturing these beads necessitated considerable effort; experimental archaeology findings suggested that creating just one bead required approximately ten minutes of work, meaning that if ten artisans labored eight hours each day, it would take about seven months to finish producing all the beads found at this burial site.
The beads were part of ceremonial garments likely worn by elite women. These garments were made from linen, as confirmed by phytolith analysis of soil particles trapped in the beads. The dresses would have been adorned with ivory and amber pendants, shaped like acorns and birds, which would have glimmered under sunlight. “Under the sun, the effect of these women with the attires glittering with reflected sunlight must have been quite powerful,” researchers wrote in their paper.
The remarkable objects and the quantity of beads suggest that these garments were not ordinary clothes, but symbols of status and power. Researchers believe that the women buried at Montelirio were highly esteemed individuals, likely spiritual or political leaders. “The role of these attires as sumptuary attributes, heavily laden with symbolism and used by a selected group of women of high social significance,” the study noted.
Despite the wealth of artifacts, no comparable burial sites have been found, making Montelirio unique in its scale and opulence. Analysis of DNA is yet to be done to ascertain the biological relatedness of the buried individuals, but the presence of so many high-status individuals suggests a complex social hierarchy where women could attain elite positions.
