The Lady of Baza, a precious insight into Spanish antiquity

While excavating the region in search of artifacts produced by an elusive Iberian civilization, archaeologists unearthed a sumptuous funerary statue: the Lady of Baza.

Sitting on a winged throne, the Lady of Baza was discovered in an Iberian necropolis in Baza, Spain.The colorfully toned piece was made in the 4th century BCE.

Sitting on a winged throne, the Lady of Baza was discovered in an Iberian necropolis in Baza, Spain.The colorfully toned piece was made in the 4th century BCE.

In the south of Spain, north of the small town of Baza is a pre-Roman necropolis known as Cerro del Santuario, where in 1971 a team of archaeologists began excavations and on a July morning Under the blazing Andalusian sun, a technician's tool collides with a solid surface, and what initially seemed like a piece of colored stone quickly caught the attention of archaeologist Francisco José Presedo As the object emerges from the earth, a woman's face appears, flooded with light after 2,500 years in darkness.

Now known as the Lady of Baza, this limestone sculpture depicts a richly dressed and jeweled woman seated in a winged armchair, originally painted in bright colors, the work still bears traces to this day.pigment, including pink blush on the cheeks as well as white and red squares around the rim of his tunic.Human cremated remains were found in an opening on the right side of the statue, confirming the use of the Lady of Baza as a funeral urn circa 380 BC.

Posted Date: 2020-12-04