Massive Collection of 4,500-Year-Old Beads Discovered in Spain

In Seville, Spain, researchers have uncovered a staggering collection of approximately 270,000 beads made from scallop and cockle shells, stones, and animal bones at the Montelirio Tholos site. This Copper Age grave, dated through radiocarbon analysis to between 2900 and 2650 B.C., also contained the remains of about 20 individuals, primarily women, who had been adorned with cinnabar to give their bodies a red hue.

The report, led by Leonardo Garcia Sanjuan of the University of Seville, indicates that the labor required to drill these beads amounted to an estimated 250,000 hours, suggesting a prosperous community.

Notably, one woman, buried in the Oranti pose with her arms raised overhead, was dressed in a full-body tunic composed of tens of thousands of beads. The Oranti pose is believed to be associated with prayer or invocation, potentially indicating that this woman held a role as a religious leader.

Furthermore, her burial was strategically aligned with a narrow beam of sunlight that illuminated the chamber during the summer solstice. These findings offer significant insights into the social and cultural practices of ancient populations in the region, enhancing our understanding of their material culture.

The original research appears in the journal Science Advances.