Recent archaeological research at the El Cerrón site in Illescas, Toledo, is reshaping traditional views of ancient Carpetania, a central Iberian region long considered culturally marginal. A study led by Universidad Autónoma de Madrid researcher Pablo Sánchez de Oro, published in the journal Antiquity, introduces firm evidence to propose that Carpetania’s local elite were actively involved in Mediterranean trade and cultural networks throughout the Late Iron Age (4th–1st centuries BCE).
At the center of this find is a stunning terracotta relief discovered in Structure 2, which has been interpreted by archaeologists as a sanctuary. The artifact depicts a procession that includes a griffin bearing a lotus flower, charioteers on horse-drawn chariots, and a human figure holding what appears to be a staff of command or a spear. This iconography is typical of Mediterranean art, having parallels along the Iberian coast and northern Italy, regions distant from the inland location of El Cerrón, over 300 kilometers from the sea.
That this Mediterranean-style relief is seen so far inland is a significant insight. The El Cerrón decorated terracotta relief is one of the clearest examples of the use of foreign imagery by ancient inland elites to assert power. The elites were not simply imitators but active participants in the creation of the cultural landscape of the time.
Excavations at El Cerrón revealed several phases of construction, including rectangular structures with stone foundations and adobe walls. Beneath Structure 2, excavations also revealed evidence of ritual activity in Structure 1 in the form of a central hearth and evidence of burning, perhaps linked to regional social tensions in the 4th century BCE.
Finds such as Attic-style pottery, a horse-shaped bronze fibula that was likely produced in northern Italy, and other items also serve to further suggest the Carpetanian elite’s access to and engagement with foreign markets. These imported artifacts were not merely copied but were selectively adopted to reinforce elite legitimacy and status.
Historically, Carpetania has been viewed as a cultural backwater influenced by the larger, more prominent neighboring societies like the Celtiberians or Vettones. The new study, however, challenges that assumption. The authors argue that Carpetanian elites consciously adopted Mediterranean symbols and customs, like the griffin relief, not only for aesthetics but also to strengthen social and political authority within their communities.
This change in the settlement pattern during this period, from plains to fortified hilltops, is a reflection of broader social change. With a growing population and increased food production, competition and conflict also increased. The strategic construction of shrines and the identification of Mediterranean symbols used within religious contexts suggest a sophisticated use of cultural tools for political purposes.
Most significantly, the researchers point to the necessity of reexamining historical assumptions. “Our findings highlight a critical need to challenge long-standing assumptions and confront biases that have shaped Mediterranean interaction studies, especially regarding districts traditionally labelled as ‘marginal’,” the authors wrote.
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