New Tartessian Gallery in Badajoz

[Lavanda]

I know that Badajoz is not in Andalucia but let me explain:

The Government has recently announced that any archaeological finds discovered in a province will stay in the province, rather than everything going to the Museo Archaeological de Madrid (MAN). This is good news for us as the MAN has so many artefacts it simply cannot display everything. A good percentage of treasures are kept in the sotano for safe-keeping and only see the light of day when there is a special exhibition or when displays are rotated. For example; the Phoenician treasure of Aliseda numbers over 100 artefacts yet only six are on display at any one time. A person may never actually see all the treasures even if they live to be 100.

In addition to the provinces now being allowed to keep their discoveries, the government is giving out grants to improve museums. The Cáceres museum, which many of you know, is quite dark and dingy. It's in the old Palacio de las Veletas in the Old Town and as such cannot be altered too much. The Badajoz Archaeological Museum is also in an old palace but one built much later and so the rooms are big and airy. Both museums have received 20 million (as far as my sources know) for renovation and improvements and Badajoz is to have a new gallery devoted to the Tartessians. I have seen the plans shown to me by the Director of the Museum and they look amazing. The new gallery should be opening in December or January — as long as the work is on schedule.

The Tartessians are a shared heritage between Andaluia and Extremadura. They were the peninsula's very first civilisation and spread out along the Guadalquivir and later went north to settle along the southern bank of the Guadiana. I'm not very up to speed with the Tartessian sites in western Andalucia, but in Extremadura we have Cancho Roano, La Mata, El Tamborrio (identified but awaiting excavation) and Turuñuelo. The last site is the most exciting and has given up enormous amounts of clues as to who the Tartessians were including a skeleton which is undergoing DNA testing. In the Spring of 2023, the most exciting discovery at Turuñuelo, so far, was unearthed. Five busts, three very damaged but the other two in reasonable condition, were uncovered in what may have been a shrine and the busts may represent goddesses. The facial features, hooped ear rings and the hair styles are reminiscent of ancient sculptures from the Middle East and Asia. They are quite beautiful and are dated to around 2,500 years ago.

So, for those of you who like to pop over the border now and then it may be worth your while to make a detour to Badajoz and see some of the things that link us all together.

[olive]

Thanks, informative. Filed for next visit your way.