Advanced 2500-year-old Construction Techniques Revealed

A brilliant new study conducted by an international team of researchers has revealed the construction processes employed at the Casas del Turuñuelo archaeological site in Guareña, Badajoz, Spain. This research sheds new light on one of the best-preserved earthen structures from the Bronze Age in the western Mediterranean, offering a detailed reconstruction of its building methods, piecing together the techniques that allowed this colossal, monumental edifice to stand the test of time so successfully.

The research team, comprising scholars from the Universities of Helsinki and Murcia, as well as the Institute of Archaeology (CSIC—Junta de Extremadura), have been led by Esther Rodríguez Gonzales and Sebastian Celestino Pérez of CSIC since 2014. Working at the site dated to the 5th century BC, they’ve published their finds in the journal Scientific Reports.

Aerial view of the Casas del Turuñuelo site, where evidence of animal sacrifice conducted by the Tartessos culture was uncovered. (Iborra Eres, et. al. / CC BY 4.0 DEED)

In Harmony with Local Materials and Environmental Conditions

The construction techniques employed by the Tartessians demonstrate an advanced understanding of local materials and environmental conditions, with the use of adobe (sun-dried bricks) and rammed earth (compressed soil), which allowed them to create durable structures that were both sustainable and well-suited to the climate of southwestern Spain.

Marta Lorenzon, a prominent member of the research team from the University of Helsinki, emphasizes the core objectives of their study in a press release:

“We sought to investigate how earthen materials were processed and employed, the organizational structure behind the labor, and the degree of expertise within the community responsible for its construction. Our aim was to illuminate the building methods, resource exploitation, and the socio-political mechanisms that enabled such monumental architecture.”

By sourcing their building materials locally, they minimized the need for long-distance transportation and worked in harmony with the natural landscape. The Casas del Turuñuelo site, in particular, exemplifies these methods, showcasing a sophisticated coordination of labor, with skilled artisans overseeing the preparation and layering of earthen materials.

The Casas del Turuñuelo site, attributed to the Tartessian culture, showcases a sophisticated use of earthen construction materials, which, according to Benjamín Cutillas Victoria, one of the co-authors of the study, represents an adaptive and highly sustainable architectural approach. This approach reveals a level of ingenuity and environmental awareness in the Tartessians, often underexplored in previous scholarship.

Aerial view of the Casas del Turuñuelo tumulus, 2017. (Proyecto Construyendo Tarteso/Scientific Reports)

As Lorenzon notes:

“This research provides a valuable window into sustainable building techniques from antiquity, which could inform modern architectural practices. The coordinated use of local and natural resources exemplifies an eco-friendly approach that remains highly relevant today.”

In addition to architectural insights, this study offers a broader understanding of the socio-economic structures of ancient societies, particularly in terms of labor organization and resource distribution. The effective coordination of labor in such large-scale construction is almost unparallelled across history and time.

“The ability to reconstruct these ancient techniques provides invaluable insights into how this protohistoric culture thrived and adapted, offering a new dimension to our understanding of their ingenuity and resilience”, Lorenzon concludes.

The Tartessos: A Late Bronze Age Culture in the Iberian Peninsula

Tartessos, anchored by a thriving port city bearing its name, emerged in the ninth century BC as a dominant force in the southwestern third of the Iberian Peninsula. For approximately 400 years, it was regarded by the ancient Greeks and other contemporaries as a near-mythic civilization, renowned for its abundant resources and advanced technologies.

The Tartessos culture, emerging during the Late Bronze Age in the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula, represented a unique blend of indigenous Paleo-Hispanic traditions and external Phoenician influences, reports The Heritage Daily. This hybrid culture developed in a region rich in natural resources, especially metals, and was characterized by its now-extinct Tartessian language.

They adopted various elements from their Phoenician trading partners in the Mediterranean, while still maintaining distinct local practices. This cultural exchange led to a society that was not only advanced in terms of trade and political organization but also distinct in its religious practices and artistic expression.

The Tartessians were particularly skilled in metallurgy, producing highly decorative and ornate metal objects that showcase their craftsmanship. Characteristic Tartessian bronze artifacts include pear-shaped jugs, shallow dish-shaped braziers with loop handles, incense burners adorned with floral motifs, and elaborate fibulas and belt buckles.

Their religious beliefs were similarly shaped by Phoenician influence, with deities such as Astarte (or Potnia) and Baal (or Melkar) being worshipped, illustrating the cultural integration that occurred through sustained contact with Phoenician traders.

However, after centuries of prominence, Tartessos abruptly vanished from the historical record, reports Atlas Obscura. The reasons behind its sudden disappearance remain a subject of debate among scholars. Some theories suggest that environmental changes, shifts in trade routes, or political upheaval contributed to the culture’s decline. Others speculate that Tartessos may have been absorbed or overshadowed by rising powers such as Carthage or Rome.

Top image: Mudbrick wall documented in the south corridor of the structure and a selection of imported materials, including glass bowls from the Eastern Mediterranean and a fragment of Pentelic marble sculpture.                 Source: Project Construyendo Tarteso/Scientific Reports

By Sahir Pandey