Two thousand kilometers separate the Carpathians from Orihuela, a distance that feels shorter in memory than on the map. In 1903, the Jesuit archaeologist Julio Furgús uncovered a tomb at the Bronze Age site of San Antón de Orihuela that stood out among more than six hundred others in the same necropolis.
A small, ornate necklace with gold and silver cones and tiny holes appeared in a dowry, its pieces distinct from anything else found in the Iberian Peninsula’s prehistoric jewelry. The significance lies in their uniqueness, a fact revealed by four years of research conducted by a MARQ team. The study suggests that these decorative elements were sewn around the necks of a high-status woman in a Carpathian-Basin style, linking her attire to a specific cultural tradition.
The ornaments likely belonged to the Bronze Age fashion of the Carpathian region, marking the wearer’s social standing beyond the local context.
The question remains how this dress or the young woman reached Orihuela. The 3,500-year-old mystery continues to unfold, with clearer results published this year by Cambridge University researchers. This extraordinary set has been displayed publicly for the first time at MARQ, where part of the collection housed at the Colegio Inmaculada Jesuítas since 1992 has been incorporated into the Alicante museum’s display.
Exposure
“Princess of the Carpathians” is the title given to this remarkable Bronze Age tomb, accompanied by ceramic, metal, and bone fragments from the Alicante center’s collection.
Juan Antonio López Padilla of MARQ, along with Francisco Javer Jover Maestre, Maria Pastor Quiles, and Ricardo E. Basso Rial, have spent fifteen years researching El Algar culture at the University of Alicante. Their team examines this exceptional dowry in depth.
Since then, additional Bronze Age sites in Spain have been explored, yet none match the uniqueness of this find. López Padilla explains that the pieces likely came from the Carpathians because similar items were often sewn around the necks of high-status women in that region. The big question remains: did the dress arrive through barter or trade, or did the young woman herself, daughter of a distinguished family from Orihuela, play a direct role in the exchange?
In this context, the archaeologist notes that attitudes must shift. The Sierra de Orihuela sits at the mouth of the Segura basin, naturally connected to the Mediterranean as an ancient trade route that linked communities along the coast.
Another dig
Lopez Padilla and his team conducted another excavation at the grave where this set appeared, only to find little else intact. Bones were photographed at discovery but later disappeared. Other tombs in the area yielded magnificent grave goods, yet they remained unique to El Argar territory.
MARQ’s director, Manuel Olcina, highlights the museum’s ongoing research efforts, noting the strength of the institution’s team and its prominent role in scholarly conferences and specialized publications. He also emphasizes the need to transfer research findings to the broader community and ensure access to everyone.
Culture funding allocated 175,000 euros to MARQ
The latest decision regarding subsidies was published recently. The MARQ Foundation has tied 175,000 euros to 2023, a rise from the 140,000 euros allocated in recent years. It states that expenditure must be justified within a month from the date of publication, with the remaining funds to be settled by October 31. In May, the ministry disbursed 140,000 euros for 2022, with Culture attributing the delay in justification to administrative processes rather than a shortfall in funds.