New Insights into the Radiocarbon Chronology of Iberian Megalithic Societies: The tholos-type Tombs of Mojácar (Almería, Spain)

Abstract

In 2012, the authors undertook a radiocarbon dating programme to explore the chronology of southern Iberian megalithic societies. Thirty new radiocarbon dates were obtained for two tholos-type tombs, Loma de Belmonte and Loma del Campo 2, and analysed within a Bayesian framework. Results are discussed in the context of the prehistoric societies of the region and four main conclusions were reached: i) in both tombs, mortuary activity started in the last century of the fourth millennium although with significant differences in their timespan; ii) funerary rituals ended in Loma de Belmonte at least five centuries later than in Loma del Campo 2; iii) the tholoi can be considered the most recent type of tomb compared to other megalithic monuments with mortuary activity beginning in the first centuries of the fourth millennium; iv) the largest and most prominent settlement of the region, Las Pilas, was closely associated with this funerary and sacred landscape.

Tregiffian: The Chronology of an Entrance Grave

“…Firstly to pull the earlier excavation archives together for publication (Jones and Quinnell forthcoming), and secondly to obtain a series of radiocarbon determinations from the surviving deposits of cremated bone. Multiple radiocarbon dating of burials in Neolithic chambered tombs and Bronze Age barrows, particularly when used in conjunction with Bayesian modelling, has been used to great effect elsewhere (Bayliss and Whittle 2007;Garrow et al 2014;Lynch 2014;Aranda Jiménez et al 2020;2021). This is especially the case where bones placed in chambers have become mixed either at the time of deposition or disturbed by later activities.…”

“…2014; Lynch 2014; Aranda Jiménez et al . 2020; 2021). This is especially the case where bones placed in chambers have become mixed either at the time of deposition or disturbed by later activities.…”