Analysis of the Economic Foundations Supporting the Social Supremacy of the Beaker Groups : Proceedings of the XVII UISPP World Congress (1–7 September, Burgos, Spain): Volume 6 / Session B36

The Bell Beaker phenomenon is one of the most fascinating horizons in European Later Prehistory, due to its vast geographical distribution, the intrinsic value of some of the artefacts comprising the Beaker package, or its supposed links to certain kinds of ritual ceremonies as shown by the frequent deposition of Beaker items in burial contexts. At present, the idea that the Beaker package is best interpreted as a symbol of power common to socially-prominent individuals by the mid-to-late third millennium BC is widely acknowledged by scholars in this field. From this point of view, the Beaker phenomenon is seen as the archaeological evidence representing an ideology which was shared by a number of prehistoric societies geographically scattered throughout much of Western and Central Europe, or, more specifically, was only shared by elite individuals within these territories. The strategies employed by these individuals to attain such privileged statuses, however, are poorly known. Therefore, in the framework of the XVII World UISPP Congress, held in September 2014 in Burgos (Spain), a session entitled ‘Analysis of the economic foundations supporting the social supremacy of the Beaker groups’ (B36) was organised by this volume’s two editors. The session focused mostly on examining this issue at a European level, and less on the study of the Beaker package itself, as a way of looking at the economic foundations that helped these individuals attain their higher social statuses. The proximity of Beaker sites to natural routes of communication highlights the importance of exchange networks through which people, objects and ideas may have circulated through Europe during this time. The Amesbury Archer in southern England is one of the best examples of interaction within Beaker territories. Having said this, considering that Beaker pots themselves were not exchanged over long distances, attention must be paid to other mechanisms of diffusion. The present volume comprises the papers presented at this session suggesting that Beaker groups may have controlled certain products and technologies. Table of Contents Foreword to the XVII UISPP Congress Proceedings Series Edition (Luiz Oosterbeek) Introduction (Elisa Guerra Doce and Corina Liesau von Lettow-Vorbeck) Graves of metallurgists in the Moravian Beaker Cultures (Jaroslav Peška) Bell Beaker funerary copper objects from the center of the Iberian Peninsula in the context of the Atlantic connections (Concepción Blasco Bosqued, Ignacio Montero and Raúl Flores Fernández) Bell Beaker connections along the Atlantic façade: the gold ornaments from Tablada del Rudrón, Burgos, Spain (Andrew P. Fitzpatrick, Germán Delibes de Castro, Elisa Guerra Doce and Javier Velasco Vázquez) Prestige indicators and Bell Beaker ware at Valencina de la Concepción (Sevilla, Spain) (Ana Pajuelo Pando and Pedro M. López Aldana) Some prestige goods as evidence of interregional interactions in the funerary practices of the Bell Beaker groups of Central Iberia (Corina Liesau von Lettow-Vorbeck) Salt and Beakers in the third millennium BC (Elisa Guerra Doce) The role of flint arrowheads in Bell Beaker groups of the Central Iberian Peninsula (Patricia Ríos Mendoza) El Peñón de la Zorra (Villena, Alicante, Spain): change and continuity in settlement pattern during Bell Beaker (Gabriel García Atiénzar) Elements for the definition of the Bell Beaker horizon in the lower Ebro Valley: preliminary approaches (Anna Gómez, Patricia Ríos Mendoza, Marc Piera and Miquel Molist) Cover 1 Title Page 3 Copyright Page 4 Contents 5 Foreword 8 Introduction 9 Graves of metallurgists in the Moravian Beaker Cultures 11 Jaroslav Peška 11 Bell Beaker funerary copper objects from the center of the Iberian Peninsula in the context of the Atlantic connections 29 Concepción Blasco Bosqued 29 Ignacio Montero 29 Raúl Flores Fernández 29 Bell Beaker connections along the Atlantic façade: the gold ornaments from Tablada del Rudrón, Burgos, Spain 47 Andrew P. Fitzpatrick 47 Germán Delibes de Castro & Elisa Guerra Doce 47 Javier Velasco Vázquez 47 Prestige indicators and Bell Beaker ware at Valencina de la Concepción (Sevilla, Spain) 65 Ana Pajuelo Pando & Pedro M. López Aldana 65 Some prestige goods as evidence of interregional interactions in the funerary practices of the Bell Beaker groups of Central Iberia 79 Corina Liesau von Lettow-Vorbeck 79 Salt and Beakers in the third millennium BC 105 Elisa Guerra Doce 105 The role of flint arrowheads in Bell Beaker groups of the Central Iberian Peninsula 121 Patricia Ríos Mendoza 121 El Peñón de la Zorra (Villena, Alicante, Spain): change and continuity in settlement pattern during Bell Beaker 139 Gabriel García Atiénzar 139 Elements for the definition of the Bell Beaker horizon in the lower Ebro Valley: preliminary approaches 151 Anna Gómez, Marc Piera & Miquel Molist 151 Graves of metallurgists in the Moravian Beaker Cultures 11 Figure 1. Metallurgist ́s graves of CWC and BBC in Europe (Map by P. Grenar). 13 Figure 2. Metallurgist ́s graves of CWC (blue) and BBC (red) in Moravia and overview of their inventory (excluding ceramics) (Map by P. Grenar). 14 Figure 3. Distribution of metallurgist ́s graves of BBC in Bohemia and their inventory (excluding ceramics) (Map by P. Grenar). 14 Figure 4. Ludéřov, Dist. Olomouc. Equipment of metal founder grave of BBC (after Šebela et al., manuscript). 15 Figure 5. Szigentszentmiklós – Felső Ürge-hegyi dűlő, Dist. Budapest. Grave 346. Metal founder grave of BBC Csepel-Group (after Patay, 2013). 16 Figure 6. Nechvalín, Dist. Hodonín. Grave 15. Example of metalsmithing ́s grave of CWC (after Šebela, 1999). 17 Figure 7. Hulín 1 – U Isidorka, Dist. Kroměříž. Grave 73 (male, 35-45). Grave of metalsmith of BBC with metallurgical package near feet (Drawing by A. Pešková). 18 Figure 8. Examples of metalworker ́s burials in Moravia and Bavaria (Jezařany-Maršovice, Künzing, Holešov, Veselí nad Moravou) (after Fitzpatrick, 2011). 19 Figure 9. Prosiměřice, Dist. Znojmo. Grave 1A (male, 30-50). BBC grave with double ring ditches and burial chamber equipped with metalsmithing tools (after Šebela et al., manuscript). 20 Figure 10. Přerov-Předmostí, Dist. Přerov. Grave or graves 1/57 and 2/57. Rich equipment grave/graves of BBC. On the surface of boar tusk found traces of copper (after Šebela et al., manuscript). 21 Figure 11. Hulín-Pravčice 2, Višňovce, Dist. Kroměříž. Grave 54. Richest grave with wooden chamber on the cemetery contained the accumulation of gold, silver, electron and amber and also the metallurgical kits (Drawing by A. Pešková). 22 Figure 12 Hulín-Pravčice 2, Višňovce, Dist. Kroměříž. Grave 54. Reconstruction of the possible positions body/bodies of the deceased (Plan by L. Šín). 23 Figure 13. Hulín-Pravčice 2, Višňovce, Dist. Kroměříž. Grave 54. Scanning Electron Microscope – anvil with traces of copper (14,32%), gold (18,28%) and silver (17,63%). Measurement by J. Štelcl. 24 Figure 14. Přerov-Předmostí, Dist. Přerov. Grave 1/57. Copper traces (57,68%) on the surface of boar tusk. Measurement by J. Štelcl. 25 Bell Beaker funerary copper objects from the center of the Iberian Peninsula in the context of the Atlantic connections 29 Figure 1. Location map of the three sites under study (After Ríos, 2011). 31 Figure 2: Female burials with copper awls amongs their grave goods. A: La Magdalena (UT 4463) (after Heras et al., 2014b). B: Copper awl from the Camino de las Yeseras’ collective burial (area 21). C: Multiple burial at Camino de las Yeseras (area 3) (ph 32 Figure 3: Male burial with a palmela point as one of his grave goods. A: La Magdalena (UT 4081) (after Heras et al., 2014 b). B and C. Multiple burial at Humanejos (U.Ex 455) (Photograph by Sara Genicio). 33 Figure 4. Female burials which included an awl and a copper dagger cooper as her/their grave goods. A: Detail of a female inhumation at the multiple burial at Humanejos (U.Ex 1166) and two metal objects included as part of her? grave goods (Photo by Sara 34 Figure 5. Detail of a multiple burial at Humanejos (U 455 Ex.) (Photograph by Sara Genicio) and components of the panoply of some of the individuals. 35 Figure 6. Detail of a double burial at Humanejos (U 1853 Ex.) (Photograph by Sara Genicio) and components of the panoply including the halberd from a male’s grave goods. 36 Table 1. Comparisons of the copper grave goods from the sites under study. 37 Table 2. XRF analysis of the metal objects from the panoply found in tomb Ue1853 at Humanejos. 40 Table 3. Weight in grams of the metal objects present within the grave goods of the UEx1853 Humanejos tomb, where the vast difference in weight of the halberd is noted with regard to the awls and other weapons. 41 Bell Beaker connections along the Atlantic façade: the gold ornaments from Tablada del Rudrón, Burgos, Spain 47 Figure 1. Tablada del Rudrón: location and site plan (after Campillo, 1984). 48 Figure 2. Tablada del Rudrón: gold ornaments (Photograph reproduced by courtesy of Museo de Burgos). 49 Figure 3. Example of Gold ornaments from England: Barrow Hills, Radley (Photograph reproduced by courtesy of the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford). 51 Figure 4. Groups within the Atlantic Series of Bell beaker gold ornaments. (Source: Needham, 2011, reproduced by courtesy of Wessex Archaeology). 52 Figure 5. Gold ornaments from ‘Ireland’ (Photograph reproduced by courtesy of the National Museum of Ireland). 53 Figure 6. Gold plaques and diadem from Bellville (Photograph reproduced by courtesy of the National Museum of Ireland). 54 Figure 7. The Orbliston ornament as an earring (Source Paton, 1871). 55 Figure 8. Dimensions of Atlantic series gold ornaments (Source: Andrew Fitzpatrick). 57 Figure 9. Distribution of later third millennium BC gold ornaments. (Source: Meller, 2014, reproduced by courtesy of the Landesmuseum für Vorgeschichte, Halle). 59 Figure 10. Cabeceiras de Basto lunula and discs (Photograph reproduced by courtesy of Museu Nacional de Arqueologia, Lisbon, Portugal). 60 Prestige indicators and Bell Beaker ware at Valencina de la Concepción (Sevilla, Spain) 65 Figure 1. Location Valencina-Castilleja. 66 Figure 2. Sites with Bell Beaker evidence of Valencina. Cartography produced by J. C. Mejías. 67 Figure 3. Gold sheet, dolmen Montelirio, Gold sheet Tomb 1 Señorío de Guzmán, Gold sheet C/ Trabajadores and Gold beads Tomb 5 Señorío de Guzmán. 68 Figure 4. Bell Beaker from “C/ Trabajadores”. 70 Figure 6. Bell Beaker sherds from “Cerro de la Cabeza” (Photography Fernández y Oliva). 71 Figure 7. Bell Beaker from Tomb 1 “Señorío de Guzmán”. 72 Figure 8. Bell Beaker from Tomb 5 “Señorío de Guzmán”. 72 Figure 9. Hypothetical reconstruction: necklace Tomb 5 “Señorío de Guzmán” (not included 3 gold beads). 73 Figure 10. Chemical analysis dendrogram. 74 Some prestige goods as evidence of interregional interactions in the funerary practices of the Bell Beaker groups of Central Iberia 79 Figure 1. Bell Beaker sites in central Iberia discussed in this paper: 1. La Magdalena (Alcalá de Henares) 2. Camino de Las Yeseras (San Fernando de Henares). 3. Salmedina (Villa de Vallecas). 4. El Juncal (Getafe). 5. Pedazo del Muerto (Pinto). 6. Humane 81 Figure 2. 1. FTIR spectrum obtained from beads made of forest elephant ivory. 2. FTIR spectrum obtained from beads made of African steppe elephant ivory. 3. Micro-CT revealing/showing dentine growth lines and cylindrical perforation of a bead made of fore 83 Figure 3. 1. Partial reconstruction of the skeleton of a forest elephant (Elephas (Paleoloxodon) antiquus) recovered from the second terrace of the Manzanares river in Transfesa (Villaverde Bajo). Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales. Photograph taken fro 84 Figure 4. Olive-shape and biconcal beads made of forest elephant ivory (1-7). 1-6 Selection of well-preserved beads from one individual Bell Beaker grave in a hypogeum at Camino de las Yeseras (A-36, III). 7-12 Selection of some ivory beads found in two 85 Figure 5. 1-8. hemispherical V-perforated buttons. 1. Ciempozuelos. 2-4. Camino de las Yeseras. 5-6. Humanejos. 7. Salmedina. 8. El Castellón (Ciudad Real). 9-10. conical types with a flat apical surface: 9. Ciempozuelos. 10. Humanejos. 11-14. Conical V- 88 Figure 6. Ivory, antler sperm whale, or bone buttons/toggles from Bell Beaker contexts in the Madrid region and other Iberian sites: 1-2. tortuga buttons or papillon from Humanejos (ivory) compared to 3. From S. Pedro do Estoril (after Gonçalves Fig. 7.26 90 Figure 7. 1. Left: Detail of the basal zone of a V-perforated ivory button from Ciempozuelos (Fig. 5.1) with several red pigment traces. Right: EDX spectrum of the red pigment traces from the button that reveal mercury (Hg) and sulfur (S) as the component 94 Salt and Beakers in the third millennium BC 105 Figure 1. Map of Europe showing the location of remains of salt exploitation for the Neolithic and Chalcolithic periods (courtesy of Olivier Weller). 106 Figure 2. Brine boiling area at Molino Sanchón II (Villafáfila, Zamora, Spain) (Photo by Javier Abarquero Moras). 109 Figure 3. Large Bell Beaker found at Molino Sanchón II (Villafáfila, Zamora, Spain) (Drawing by Ángel Rodríguez González). 109 Figure 4. Salt boiling in the Early Modern period (after Agricola, 1556). 111 Figure 5. Basketry imprints on some pottery sherds found at Molino Sanchón II (Villafáfila, Zamora, Spain) (Drawing by Ángel Rodríguez González and photos by Javier Abarquero Moras). 112 Figure 6. Salt trading routes in Europe in modern times (after Mollat, 1968). 113 Figure 7. Map of Europe around 2500 BC (after Heyd, 2007). 115 The role of flint arrowheads in Bell Beaker groups of the Central Iberian Peninsula 121 Figure 1. Examples of the warrior and archer character of Bell Beaker men. Evocation of a Bell Beaker man from Ambrona valley (a) (design L. Pascual in Garrido, 2007) and Ideal reconstruction of the Amesbury Archer (b) (Wessex Archaelogy, 2004). 125 Table 1. Sites in the region of Madrid with Beaker grave goods in which ceramics and also other objects appear but with total absence of flint arrowheads (P: pit; H: hypogeum; AC: small artificial cave; NC: small natural cave; D: dolmen; M: mound; U: u 129 El Peñón de la Zorra (Villena, Alicante, Spain): change and continuity in settlement pattern during Bell Beaker 139 Figure 1. Location of studio area and the main sites cited in the text (Villages: 1. Ereta del Pedregal; 2. Quintaret; 3. La Vital; 4. Arenal de la Costa; 5. Molí Roig; 6. Casa de Lara; 7. El Prado. Hilltop settlements: a. Mola d’Agres; b. La Serrella 142 Figure 2. Puntal de los Carniceros. Location of the settlement and planimetry of the masonry walls. 143 Figure 3. Peñón de la Zorra. Location of the settlement, planimetry of the masonry walls and location of the burial caves. 143 Figure 4. Peñón de la Zorra. Planimetry of buildings associated with the Bell Beaker phase. 144 Figure 6. Accumulated viewshed from the Puntal de los Carniceros and Peñón de la Zorra. 145 Figure 7. Metallic grave goods from the Western Cave of the Peñón de la Zorra (Simón, 1998). 146 Figure 8. Radiocarbon dating for Beaker contexts in the study area (only considered dates obtained from short-life samples and with a margin of error equal or less than 50 years).2 147 Elements for the definition of the Bell Beaker horizon in the lower Ebro Valley: preliminary approaches 151 Figure 1. Situation of the lower Ebro valley in the Iberian Peninsula. 153 Figure 2. Datings from northeastern Peninsula bell beaker contexts. 155 Figure 3. Map with main Late Neolithic, Chalcolithic and Bronze Age archaeological sites in the lower Ebro valley and surroundings: Arramblador del Barranc del Racó (1), Barranc de la Mina (2), Barranc del Ceguet (3), Camí de Coll Roig (4), Cova Cervereta 157 Figure 4. General view from El Molló during the archaeological works (Codex, Arqueologia y Patrimoni). 159 Figure 5. Pottery sherds from El Molló. 160 Bell Beaker,Prestige Items,Social Differentiation,Exchange Networks Annotation The Bell Beaker phenomenon is one of the most fascinating horizons in European Later Prehistory, due to its vast geographical distribution, the intrinsic value of some of the artefacts comprising the Beaker package, or its supposed links to certain kinds of ritual ceremonies as shown by the frequent deposition of Beaker items in burial contexts. At present, the idea that the Beaker package is best interpreted as a symbol of power common to socially-prominent individuals by the mid-to-late third millennium BC is widely acknowledged by scholars in this field. From this point of view, the Beaker phenomenon is seen as the archaeological evidence representing an ideology which was shared by a number of prehistoric societies geographically scattered throughout much of Western and Central Europe, or, more specifically, was only shared by elite individuals within these territories. The strategies employed by these individuals to attain such privileged statuses, however, are poorly known. Therefore, in the framework of the XVII World UISPP Congress, held in September 2014 in Burgos (Spain), a session entitled Analysis of the economic foundations supporting the social supremacy of the Beaker groups (B36) was organised by this volume s two editors. The session focused mostly on examining this issue at a European level, and less on the study of the Beaker package itself, as a way of looking at the economic foundations that helped these individuals attain their higher social statuses. The proximity of Beaker sites to natural routes of communication highlights the importance of exchange networks through which people, objects and ideas may have circulated through Europe during this time. The Amesbury Archer in southern England is one of the best examples of interaction within Beaker territories. Having said this, considering that Beaker pots themselves were not exchanged over long distances, attention must be paid to other mechanisms of diffusion. The present volume comprises the papers presented at this session suggesting that Beaker groups may have controlled certain products and technologies."