Los ídolos antropomorfos en el arte rupestre del noroeste peninsular: una revisión crítica a partir de nuevas evidencias

Abstract

The rock art of the north-western peninsula is an important manifestation of prehistoric culture, to which a lack of chronological clarity presents itself as one of its greatest research challenges. Some depictions of weapons or idols, which are rare, can be excluded from this generalized situation, but can be found having a direct correlation within the archaeological record. The main objective of this present study is to publicize new sites with idoliform figures in the north-western peninsula. The findings presented here are a new site with "Peña Tú" motifs, two places with representations of cylindrical idols, and a possible idol plaque. These new groups are of great interest, since they become part of the set of this type of (particularly rare) motifs in the art of the northwest and allow for the discussion of certain aspects concerning the chronology of that artistic cycle. The presence of these figures is particularly illustrative because it reproduces a type of iconography characteristic of other peninsular regions, but adapted to the techniques and patterns of representation typical of Atlantic rock art. In addition, it gives an account of the extensive network of contacts throughout the Iberian Peninsula and Europe, where not only material elements are exchanged, but cultural concepts also flow.