Archaeologists in Spain have uncovered new evidence of a forgotten local power in central Iberia that played a key role in shaping the ancient region during the Late Iron Age.
The findings challenge the long-standing belief that ancient Carpetania was a marginal society. New research indicates that the area was profoundly connected to Mediterranean trade and cultural exchange.
Pablo Sánchez de Oro of the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid led the study, which focuses on the site of El Cerrón in Illescas, Toledo.
Published in the journal Antiquity, the research highlights how elite artifacts and architecture reflect an active and intentional participation in wider Mediterranean networks. This discovery sheds new light on the lost power ancient Spain once held.
Shrines on the hill
The site of El Cerrón is situated on a small hill in the Tagus Valley, an area once considered to be politically and culturally weak. Excavations have revealed three phases of construction, each involving similar rectangular buildings with stone bases and mudbrick walls.
At the center of this research is Structure 2, a building that may have been used as a shrine. Inside, archaeologists found a decorated terracotta relief, an unusual artifact far from the Mediterranean coast.
The relief shows a procession of chariots led by a griffin. This mythological creature, with a lotus flower in its mouth, is rare in the Iberian Peninsula. The scene may depict a religious ceremony or a display of elite power. The presence of Mediterranean symbols in this inland location signals strong cultural ties with more dominant societies to the south and east.
The building beneath Structure 2, known as Structure 1, also had signs of ritual use, including a central hearth and clay floors. Both were damaged by fire, possibly linked to the social unrest that marked the fourth century BC in this region.
Imported goods and local imitations
Archaeologists also uncovered imported pottery, metal items, and decorative objects at El Cerrón. These include a bronze fibula in the shape of a horse, likely made in northern Italy.
Some ceramics suggest influence from Attic Greek styles, and other goods imitate both Iberian and Mediterranean designs. These finds prove that the local elite were not isolated. They had access to foreign markets and adopted outside customs to enhance their social standing.
Rather than simply copying dominant cultures, the Carpetanian elite adapted what they imported. The use of imported styles in religious or public buildings indicates a deliberate strategy to demonstrate power and status.
The relief may have originally come from a larger structure and was later placed in the shrine as a symbol of continuity and legitimacy.
A shift in how history sees Carpetania
Until now, historians viewed Carpetania as a minor region caught between more organized societies such as Celtiberia and Vettonia. However, this research reveals that its people were not passive observers. They participated in trade, constructed shrines, and displayed their status through carefully chosen symbols.
The study aligns with a growing trend in archaeology to reconsider the relationship between inland and coastal societies. It supports the idea that ancient inland powers, such as Carpetania, used religious and cultural symbols to secure local authority while maintaining ties with distant regions.
The fourth century BC was a period of immense transition. Population growth, increased farming, and conflict led to the rise of fortified settlements on hilltops. El Cerrón’s location and its imported goods fit this broader shift toward complexity and defense.
Reevaluation of ancient Spain
The decorated relief at El Cerrón provides one of the clearest examples of how ancient inland elites used foreign imagery to assert power. The research led by Sánchez de Oro calls for a reevaluation of long-held ideas about ancient Spain’s interior.
What was once thought to be a peripheral culture now appears central to understanding the broader picture of Mediterranean influence and indigenous agency.
By tracing these overlooked connections, researchers are uncovering a deeper history—one that reveals the lost power that helped shape ancient Spain.