Ancient Greeks Consumed Imported Fish from Spain, 2,400-Year-Old Amphorae Reveals

Cerro del Villar excavation site, wherever past amphorae were recovered successful Spain. Credit: Courtesy of  University of Málaga

A recently uncovered past amphorae store adjacent the metropolis of Málaga, Spain, reveals nonstop links betwixt section food accumulation and commercialized with Ancient Greek cities, such arsenic Corinth.

Archaeologists from the University of Málaga discovered a fifth-century B.C. pottery kiln astatine the Cerro del Villar site, on with clay amphorae that were erstwhile utilized to store and vessel salted fish.

The squad confirmed that food preserved successful these containers was transported crossed the Mediterranean and consumed successful past Greek cities, shedding caller airy connected the grade of Phoenician commercialized networks.

Workshop shows commercialized betwixt Spain and past Greece

Lead archaeologist José Suárez explained that the tract functioned arsenic an concern hub tied to the adjacent Phoenician metropolis of Malaka.

He said the amphorae’s plan and the food remnants wrong matched those discovered successful past Greek settlements, providing wide grounds of long-distance trade.

Cerro del Villar, located adjacent the rima of the Guadalhorce River, is considered 1 of the best-preserved Phoenician settlements successful the occidental Mediterranean.

The workshop’s find adds value to the thought that the country served arsenic a cardinal commercialized outpost astir 2,500 years ago.

Roman mill and eastbound influences

The confederate assemblage of the tract besides contains remnants of a Roman-era salting factory, dating to the High Imperial period.

Although it was abandoned successful the 5th period A.D., archaeologists accidental it remains successful bully information and is being studied for its transportation to earlier Phoenician activity.

In the bluish portion of the site, researchers are analyzing ample chromatic buildings that erstwhile faced the shoreline. One operation includes a acceptable of steps believed to pb to a erstwhile dock oregon vessel landing.

Inside, they recovered home ceramics, tableware, and vessels made some by manus and connected a wheel—some bearing stylistic influences from the Eastern Mediterranean.

Imported goods uncover taste exchange

Among the imported goods recovered are amphorae from Athens and Corinth, apt utilized to transport vino and oil.

A fragment of an Egyptian alabastron, erstwhile utilized to clasp luxury wine, and portion of a terracotta disguise were besides found, suggesting some commercialized and spiritual practices took spot astatine the site.

The excavation squad includes scholars from respective Spanish and planetary universities, arsenic good arsenic students from the University of Málaga. The probe is backed by the Andalusian determination government, the Málaga Foundation, and section authorities.

While the fieldwork has concluded, investigation continues successful the university’s laboratory to sphere the materials and further survey their origins and usage.