Almoloya-Bastida Project: power, gender and kinship in a forgotten civilization of the Bronze Age

RESULTS

The results of the project have far-reaching implications for both archaeological research and heritage dissemination:

1. Genetics: population ancestry, kinship, and politics.

Ancient DNA analysis—in collaboration with the Max Planck Institute (Germany) —and systematic archaeological excavations have shed light on two of the most relevant research questions of Late-Prehistoric Europe:

• The analysis of ancient DNA from 68 individuals at La Almoloya (one of largest samples for a single prehistoric site worldwide) has revealed the kinship practices of a whole Argaric community: female symmetrical exogamy, and restricted patrilocality and patrilinearity. This is a milestone in the application of aDNA analysis to prehistoric societies.
• The Argaric population has revealed a combination of origins unique in Bronze Age Iberia, with three main components detected so far: (a) local Neolithic/Copper Age ancestry; (b) Caspian Steppe (Yamna) ancestry, also detected in Corded Ware and Bell Beaker groups across Western Europe; (c) “Neolithic Iranian” ancestry known from Central and Eastern Mediterranean populations. This unexpected scenario opens new avenues of research involving the whole Mediterranean basin.

An “urban revolution”. Excavations in La Bastida have uncovered the distinctive traits of a genuine city:

a) A monumental fortification. The characteristics of the La Bastida fortification were unique in Western Europe at the time. They reflect new forms of warfare and military architecture that recall those of Troy II, and other urban centres in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean.

b) Large-scale water management. Its urban layout includes the largest water reservoir in Prehistoric Europe. A rock-cut underground canal also brought water into the city, as often was the case with ancient cities.

c) Demographic concentration. In its heyday, more than 1,000 people lived and worked in this fortified city of 5 ha—the highest population density in prehistoric Iberia.

d) A capital. La Bastida controlled over 3,000 km² of centralised territory.

e) The ‘first European Parliament’: the architecture of power. A ‘Palace’ with a pillared hall for political reunions (‘Parliament’) has been found at La Almoloya. Here, political leaders could have ruled over thousands of people.

These and other results dispel the traditional picture of a ‘Barbaric’ Bronze Age Europe, as El Argar shows a level of social complexity consistent with ‘civilisation’.

The future is exciting: new extensive excavations and lines of research are in the agenda.