Un singular ambiente doméstico del Hierro I en el interior de la península ibérica: la casa 1 del Cerro de San Vicente (Salamanca, España)

Abstract

Se presentan los resultados de las excavaciones (2006, 2017 y 2021) en un sector de la aldea del Hierro I del Cerro de San Vicente (Salamanca). Se ha exhumado un agregado informal de edificios y estructuras adjetivas de adobe cuyo patrón espacial es afín al esquema transcultural patrilocal. El artículo se centra en la casa 1 y sus cenizales. Tal vivienda fue excepcional por su larga e ininterrumpida biografía, su mobiliario de barro –con dos poyos que pudieron acoger hasta 20 personas y un hogar con forma de piel de toro extendida– y su abandono ritualizado –quemada c. 650-575 a.C. y recrecida con adobes de sus paredes–. La excavación reveló una alta concentración de molinos y vajilla fina local pintada, así como instrumental de labores especializadas y altamente cualificadas –alfarería e hilado–. Sobresale un lote de hallazgos inéditos en el interior de la península ibérica: exóticos abalorios y vajilla de fayenza del Mediterráneo oriental, cerámica de engobe rojo fenicia y objetos litúrgicos y coroplástica con paralelos tartésicos y mediterráneos. Todos estos hallazgos indican que la casa 1 acogió una asidua actividad social –banquetes y transacciones con huéspedes– como cabaña de reuniones de un grupo corporativo extenso, donde acabaron tan destacados objetos.

Mobile craftspeople and orientalising transculturation in seventh-century BC Iberia

“…Extensive excavations (1990–2021) on the hilltop have explored the later prehistoric stratigraphy, revealing a high-density occupation characterised by dried mudbrick or adobe architecture (Blanco-González et al 2017, 2022), very different from that of urban settlements in ‘pericolonial’ settings (Arruda 2000; Aubet 2001). Excavations on the lower slopes of the site have been able to investigate earlier layers due to the truncation of later stratigraphy by medieval activity.…”

“…Hence, although to date we have not excavated a single complete compound, their existence is not in doubt. In terms of social organisation, the overall unplanned distribution of dwellings across the site suggests a cognatic descent model, whereas the aggregation of dwellings in compounds indicates corporate residential groupings (Ensor 2013: 155–7, 2021: 22–8; Blanco-González et al 2022).…”

“…Recent excavations have also revealed large platforms of reddened earth, probably marking outdoor communal fireplaces. Standing out among the dwellings, House 1 was further excavated in 2017 and 2021 (Blanco-González et al 2022). Unlike the other contemporaneous dwellings, this house featured two benches suitable for up to 20 individuals and an unusual central fireplace, with an ox-hide-shaped plan echoing examples known from Tartessian sites (Celestino & López-Ruiz 2016: 238–53; Figure 2c).…”

“…House 1 yielded a relatively opulent assemblage featuring a number of imported objects (Blanco-González et al 2022). Some 17 fragments of querns were abandoned, upside-down, on the house floor (Figure 2b–c) and 20 additional pieces were retrieved from its associated midden, representing at least different 15 querns—an extraordinary number for a single-family household.…”

“…Unique for such an inland site are several exotic items from the Eastern Mediterranean (Blanco-González et al 2022; Chapon et al . in press): eight faience beads, a faience amulet of Hathor, a fragment of an Egyptian faience bowl and sherds from several Phoenician red-slip vessels, including plates, an unguentarium and a wine jug ( oinochoe ).…”