UB archaeologists find some intact cremation urns in the Iberian necropolis of Ulldecona

Group of intact urns before extraction.
Group of intact urns before extraction.
Research
(09/07/2015)

A group of archaeologists, students and training researchers of the University of Barcelona (UB) and the Catalan Institute of Classical Archaeology (ICAC), directed by Maria Carme Belarte (ICAC) and Jaume Noguera (UB), have identified one of the scarce Iberian necropolis with intact pottery urns. The excavation campaign carried out in the necropolis of Esquarterades (Ulldecona, Tarragona) ended last May. Experts found about twenty graves dated between the late 5th century and the early 4th century BC.

Group of intact urns before extraction.
Group of intact urns before extraction.
Research
09/07/2015

A group of archaeologists, students and training researchers of the University of Barcelona (UB) and the Catalan Institute of Classical Archaeology (ICAC), directed by Maria Carme Belarte (ICAC) and Jaume Noguera (UB), have identified one of the scarce Iberian necropolis with intact pottery urns. The excavation campaign carried out in the necropolis of Esquarterades (Ulldecona, Tarragona) ended last May. Experts found about twenty graves dated between the late 5th century and the early 4th century BC.

This is the second and last campaign carried out in the site, discovered by chance in 2013 after identifying some metallic weapons on the surface, connected with the grave goods that are usually present in Iberian graves. “These remains are important because necropolis from this ancient Iberian period were mostly found in the 1960s when tractors began to be used in agriculture, so most of them were destroyed”, affirms Jaume Noguera.

Pottery urns with typical Iberian grave goods
In this case, both archaeological excavation campaigns have enabled to identify around twenty graves in the shape of pottery urns covered by a pottery lid and placed on graves sealed up with a flagstone. “Urns contained skeletal remains from cremation as well as some bronze personal ornaments (pendants, necklaces, brooches, etc.). Out of the urn, under or next to it, we found iron objects, mostly weapon pieces (lance tips, javelins, knives, etc.)”, explains Jaume Noguera.
Researchers have also found some fragments of Attic black vases, specifically Castulo cups, which have enabled to estimate that the necropolis was used between the late 5th century and the early 4th century.

An excavation with modern methodology
Research carried out at the necropolis of Esquarterades has allowed studying for the first time graves applying modern methodology, which includes, among many other aspects, geophysical surveys, aerial photography, radiographies and computed tomographies of urns in order to obtain images of the content and determine the presence of grave goods before excavating. Later, researchers will carry out an anthropological study of skeleton remains, a thermo-luminescence dating, micro-morphological analysis of sediments and an archaeological analysis of the earth included in urns and other sediments taken from the burial area.  
Excavation works are part of the four-year programme 2014-2017 of the University of Barcelona “El primer mil·lenni AC als territoris del curs inferior de l'Ebre: la formació, desenvolupament i dissolució de la cultura ibèrica”, and it is supported by the Ulldecona Town Council and the Department of Culture of the Government of Catalonia.