antequera
Went to The Dolmens of Antequera. Not sure what to say except something is brewing… megaliths. metal. transformations. the magic of metal. hmmm
A few links:
Video in English about the Dolmens of Romeral
Text below from the Antequera museum
from ANTEQUERA MUSEUM (at the site of the dolmens)
the magic of metal
The excavations of silos in Chalcolithic settlements (some like ancient rubbish dumps) has given valuable insight into the daily life of these communities and their gradual adaptation to the economic, social, and religious changes of the period.
The generation of food surpluses meant that not all members of the community needed to work in the fields, leading to the development of a variety of new professions not linked to agricultural production. Artisan activity was on the increase. New types of pottery are in evidence, for example those specifically designed for use in cheese making. The large number of loom weights uncovered at sites of excavation indicates a focus on weaving and on the development of new textiles.
Among these new professions, metallurgy clearly stands out for the role it plays in societal and economic change, involving a range of processes from extraction of the raw material to concentration, smelting, refining, and the production of finished articles. Polished stone axes gradually disappear, to be replaced by the copper axe with this finer, sharper and undoubtedly more efficient blade.
Changes in ritualist practices and symbolism are clearly in evidence during the Chalcolithic age and indicate a new focus on religion and spirituality among its communities. It is possible that craftspeople, in particular those working with metal, began to play a role in magical/religious activities. The transformation of base material into metal might have been viewed as a sacred act or a form of communication with the spiritual world.
