Spanish archaeologists from the Valencia Institute uncovered new details about the Casas del Turunuelo, a site dating to the late 5th century BC in southwest Iberia. The site appears to have functioned as a location for collective animal sacrifices, with evidence suggesting large-scale rituals that included multiple species. The findings were published in the journal PLOS One, contributing a fresh perspective on ritual practice during Iron Age Europe.
Researchers analyzed an impressive collection of 6,770 bones, attributed to 52 individual animals, buried across three consecutive phases. The majority of sacrificial remains were adult horses, but the spectrum also included cattle, pigs, and even a dog, indicating a diversified repertoire of offerings. This breadth hints at the ritual importance of horse effigies or beings within the social and religious life of the community.
In the first two phases, the animal skeletons largely remained intact, preserving substantial anatomical detail. The third phase, however, showed bones that bore marks of processing, suggesting parts of the animals were prepared for consumption in a ritual meal. This combination of sacrifice and communal eating points to a ceremony that blended tribute with shared dining, reinforcing social bonds among participants.
The archaeologists noted a consistent selection of adult individuals across the offerings, a pattern that might reflect symbolic criteria, status considerations, or the perceived power of mature animals within the ritual framework. The role of fire is another striking feature, with evidence of burnt plant remains and charred animal material marking the ceremonies. The site also stands out for its unusually high number of equine sacrifices, a detail that invites questions about the status of horses in the local culture and their symbolic significance.
From these observations, researchers argue that Casas del Turunuelo offers a window into how Iron Age communities in this part of Europe organized mass animal rites. The combination of offerings, the staged sequence of burials, and the accompanying feasting behaviors contribute to a richer understanding of ritual economies and community identity in ancient Iberia.
Earlier discoveries in Spain have already broadened our view of this era. For instance, an ancient stele depicting a male warrior wearing women’s jewelry surprised researchers, challenging traditional assumptions about gender roles and iconography in ritual depictions of the period. These findings together underscore a dynamic and evolving picture of social and religious life in Iron Age Iberia and neighboring regions.