New surprises in Turuñuelo: the oldest Greek marble altar in the western Mediterranean has been discovered.
The Casas del Turuñuelo site (Guareña, Badajoz) continues to amaze. This is the seventh excavation campaign and a major new discovery by archaeologists from the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), who have uncovered the oldest Greek marble altar in the western Mediterranean. It also includes ceramics and potter's wheels. Of particular note is a marble column from a Greek quarry that would have been located on the island of Marmara in Asia Minor (present-day Turkey).
The column-shaped piece once again highlights the importance of this settlement of the Tartessian civilization in this southwestern territory of the Iberian Peninsula for Mediterranean trade and its trade routes from the 5th century BC. Furthermore, during work in recent months, a hydraulic canal system has been discovered, revealing the technical capabilities of the Tartessian builders. Nearly 4,000 kilometers separate the two territories.
The excavation's co-director, Sebastián Celestino , explained that the site "remains the jewel of Tartessian architecture due to the enormous amount of information it provides." Similarly , Esther Rodríguez , also co-director, emphasized that the altar discovered measures approximately 60 centimeters in diameter at its base and is approximately one and a half meters high.
Regarding the altar-shaped marble column, studies confirm that it comes from the present-day island of Marmara, in Asia Minor, with one of the most characteristic—and oldest—forms of the Western Mediterranean, of Greek origin, as confirmed by the Catalan Institute of Classical Archaeology. According to preliminary analyses, it is "Proconnesus marble, in present-day Turkey, and is the first documented piece of this age from Asia Minor found in this area."
In parallel, regarding the second discovery, they explained that it is a canalization carried out prior to the building's construction, more than a meter high, which brings us closer to the full Tartessus of the Classical period, as found in the Guadalquivir area. Specifically, it was built with large stone blocks, highlighting the advanced technical knowledge of the Tartessian builders. This work was planned even before the main building, making it one of the oldest elements of the complex.
Regarding the progress of the excavations, Sebastián Celestino explained that approximately 50 percent of the site has now been excavated.
The Casas del Turuñuelo site is located in the Vegas Altas del Guadiana region, near the mouth of the Búrdalo River. Archaeological excavations began in 2014, and the following year, part of a majestic earthwork building was uncovered. Its two floors are still standing, making it a unique example of protohistoric architecture in the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula.
What gave it worldwide significance was, first and foremost, the discovery of a massive animal sacrifice laid out on the floor of this site. Fifty-two horses, four cows, four pigs, and one dog were identified among the recovered skeletal remains, making this deposit a hecatomb . Also among the archaeological materials recovered from this site are a seven-weight bronze weight system, three glass paste unguent jars, the feet of a Greek marble sculpture, and four glass bowls from northern Greece.
The great discovery that catapulted these excavations to fame were the Tartessian face reliefs, depicting the human faces of up to five different individuals , in varying states of preservation. These were the first to be found in the Iberian Peninsula among the Tartessians. These human representations constituted an unprecedented discovery of Tartessian culture and made it a discovery of global importance.
Last year, two surviving feet from a marble sculpture were discovered in the building's central courtyard. According to archaeometric analysis, the feet came from the Pentelic quarries of Athens , meaning they were carved from the same material used to create the Parthenon. At the same time, another excavation revealed a slate plaque that appears to correspond to a southern Paleohispanic alphabet.
The Minister of Culture of the Regional Government of Extremadura, Victoria Bazaga , stated at the presentation of the new discoveries that the construction of a large 116-meter dome that will protect the site and facilitate visits is already out to tender. This infrastructure, endowed with a 7 million euro investment from the Regional Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Sustainable Development, will be one of the most unique in the country. "We celebrate each new discovery," added the Minister of Culture, who expressly thanked the Mérida Institute of Archaeology, the CSIC (Spanish National Research Council), and the entire scientific and technical team that makes this exemplary work possible.
For his part, the Secretary General for Science, Technology, and Innovation, Javier de Francisco, has announced new multi-year funding from the Ministry of Education, Science, and Vocational Training to finance the work of IAM-CSIC researchers at this site. A special grant of €236,000 has been approved from July 1, 2025, to December 31, 2026, to support the hiring of personnel assigned to the site to assist with excavations and material extraction (findings). This grant is in addition to the already approved grant of €280,000 to finance work from January 2024 to June 30, 2025.
elmundo
