2,400-year-old carvings on slate were likely practice sketches for artists. See them
Sifting through the ruins of a long-gone civilization, archaeologists uncovered a flat gray stone. From afar, the moderately-sized slate doesn’t look like much. But seen up close, countless ancient carvings begin to take shape.
Archaeologists found the decorated stone tablet while excavating the Casas del Turuñuelo in Guareña, the Spanish National Research Council said in a June 6 news release. The 2,500-year-old site is a well-preserved, two-story structure built by the Tartessians, an ancient Spanish culture.
Tartessian culture flourished from the ninth to sixth centuries B.C. in southwestern Spain, according to the World History Encyclopedia. Skilled at silver, tin and iron metalworking, the Tartessians became incredibly wealthy — “like an ancient version of the modern ‘El Dorado,’” a mythical city of gold, per the Encyclopedia.
The Casas del Turuñuelo may have been a Tartessian sanctuary or temple. Excavations have been ongoing at the site for at least six years, officials said.
During the most recent excavation, archaeologists unearthed a roughly 8-inch slate with carvings on both sides. The carvings — dated between about 600 and 400 B.C. — show repeated faces, geometric shapes and three warriors in a combat scene, officials said.
Archaeologists believe the unique slate was likely used by artists for practice sketches before engraving the final design on gold, ivory or wood.
Photos shared by the Guareña City Council show the 2,400-year-old tablet.
The slate offers a glimpse into the process of Tartessian artisans and their wider culture, archaeologists said. The carvings will help expand current understanding of Tartessian attire, weapons and jewelry.
Excavations also uncovered other artifacts linked to artisanal work such as pottery, iron tools, weights and evidence of weaving work, officials said. Photos shared by the research council on X, formerly Twitter, show some of these ancient items.
Archaeologists plan to study the slate in further detail and continue excavations at the ruins in Guareña, a town roughly 200 miles southwest of Madrid.
Google Translate was used to translate the news release and X post from the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and Facebook post from the Guareña City Council.
This story was originally published June 10, 2024 at 8:22 AM with the headline "2,400-year-old carvings on slate were likely practice sketches for artists. See them."
