A space for sacrifice: the patio of the Tartessian site of Casas del Turuñuelo (Guareña, Badajoz)

Abstract

In this article we present the first results of the excavations in the court of the Tartesic building of Casas del Turuñuelo (Guareña, Badajoz), as a consequence of the archaeological digs carried out in the years 2017 and 2018. This work analyses both its architecture and constructive techniques used for the construction of this space, emphasizing specially the presence of a monumental staircase that bridge the gap between the two preserved floors of the building. Moreover, we lay out the imported materials from the Mediterranean Sea documented in this area. Finally, we offer the first data about the documented animal hecatomb executed on the court floor, in which it is of great importance the presence of horses. These findings make the archaeological site of Casas del Turuñuelo a unique example to address the study of the last moments of the Tartessian culture in the middle valley of the Guadiana, at the end of the 5th century BC.