A team of archaeologists and historians confirmed the discovery of the world's largest single-burial assemblage of beads at the Montelirio megalithic site in southwestern Spain. The study revealing the find was published in Science Advances.
Approximately 270,000 shell beads crafted from marine shells were uncovered in one of the tombs at the Montelirio complex. Researchers believe these beads adorned the ceremonial garments of the women buried there, underscoring their high status in society. The beads were carefully shaped and perforated, likely threaded into elaborate attire that would have shimmered in sunlight, allowing these women to emerge as powerful figures before the crowds, according to archaeologist Leonardo García Sanjuán.
The tomb, constructed approximately 4,875 years ago and used for around 200 years, housed the remains of 20 individuals, 15 of whom were women. This disproportion indicates the exceptional social status of the buried women. The immense effort required to create and assemble the bead-covered garments implies a complex society where craftsmanship, status, and burial rituals were deeply intertwined.
Researchers conducted experiments to replicate the bead-making process at Montelirio, demonstrating the skills involved in crafting these intricate items. They estimated that producing all the beads would have required about 247,500 hours of labor. This equates to roughly seven months of continuous work by a team of ten highly skilled artisans, working eight-hour days for 206 consecutive days. The production of such a vast quantity of beads indicates an investment of time and resources, emphasizing the buried women's importance within their society.
Material analysis determined that most of the Montelirio beads were made from seashells belonging to the Pectinidae and Cardiidae families, native to the Iberian Atlantic. This points to a complex network of artisan production and marine resource trade. The use of seashells suggests a link to the sea, either as a symbol of prestige or a connection to spiritual beliefs tied to water. Experiments showed that processing one bead took about 10 minutes.
Among the most prominent individuals buried at Montelirio were two women identified as UE102 and UE343. They wore beaded tunics that positioned them as prominent figures. The body of UE343 was placed in the center of the burial chamber in a ritual posture with raised arms, which has been interpreted as a representation of a leadership or priestly role.
The Montelirio tomb is considered evidence that women were recognized not only by their status as mothers or wives but also by religious and political roles in society. "These discoveries require us to reassess the role of women in the writing of history," said García Sanjuán. "The concept of matriarchy has been a controversial subject throughout history. However, many discoveries from this period point to the existence of powerful women who were greatly respected in society," he said.
The sheer scale of the bead find at Montelirio sets a new record, surpassing any known single-burial bead collection in history. Comparative analysis with other findings suggests that this type of attire was uncommon in other contexts of the time, emphasizing the uniqueness of Montelirio.
Over the past five years, a multidisciplinary team conducted a thorough study of the Montelirio material using various scientific methods, including radiocarbon dating, morphometric analysis, archaeobotany, and experimental reconstructions. Radiocarbon dating confirmed that the beads were made just before the death of those who wore them, reinforcing the idea that these outfits were specifically designed for funeral rituals.
The Montelirio site was discovered in 1868 but was left largely unexplored until excavations began in 1980.
Archaeologist Dr. Marta Díaz-Guardamino said that creating these garments required a labor force that took months or even years.
This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq