The Tholos of Peñarroyo I (Benalup-Casas Viejas, Cádiz). Absolute dating, architectural study and approach to its material evidence

Abstract

This paper presents the results of the archaeological excavation carried out at the Peñarroyo Tholos I (Benalup-Casas Viejas, Cádiz), which belongs to the Celemín necropolis and is located in the southernmost part of the Iberian Peninsula. We analyze its architecture, the obtained radiocarbon dates, the anthropological study, and the recovered archaeological artifacts. Despite the partial looting of the tomb, which renders the obtained inferences incomplete and fragmentary, our research has represented a significant advancement in the study of megalithism in the far south of the Iberian Peninsula. This is an area with a large number of known dolmen tombs, many of which have either been looted at an undetermined historical time or whose results come from outdated excavations lacking modern methodology. The silver objects found are also of particular interest, as they confirm the presence of silver artifacts in western Andalusia at such early dates.