Landslide unearths 2500-year-old Celtic necklaces in Spain: Was a distinguished woman's grave uncovered?
1:59 PM EST, December 13, 2023
In Asturias' village of Penamellera Baja, two gold necklaces were found, this region, located off the Bay of Biscay in northern Spain, is an autonomous community with its capital in Oviedo.
Discovery of two iron age necklaces in Spanish Asturias
A worker from a local company servicing the water and sewage network stumbled upon the first necklace when he arrived to assess the network's condition post-landslide.
The find was confirmed by the authorities of the Autonomous Community of Asturias. Scientists from the Archaeological Museum of Asturias and the University of Cantabria were then brought into the fold. A second gold necklace was located with the help of metal detectors.
According to Pablo Arias from the University of Cantabria, the C-shaped necklaces found in Penamellera Baja were likely worn by "high-ranking women" during the Iron Age.
The Spanish archaeologist explained that these rigidly structured necklaces, colloquially referred to as torques, are akin to others discovered previously in Spain. One such piece is exhibited in the Archaeological Museum in Madrid.
Given the nature of these discoveries, Pablo Arias suggests extensive searches in the area of the village of Penamellera Baja, as he theorizes the potential existence of more such Iron Age necklaces.
The Spanish archaeologist further mentioned that it remains uncertain whether the discovered jewelry in Asturias was part of a larger "treasure", or solely a burial offering for some distinguished individual.
