Cabecinho da Capitôa (Mafra, Lisbon, Portugal). An Amber Necklace and Ceramic Vessels in Votive Contexts of the Western Iberian Late Bronze Age/ Early Iron Age

Abstract

The site of Cabecinho da Capitôa (Lisbon, Mafra) was identified and excavated in the context of a preventive archaeological intervention carried out during the construction of the A21 Highway in 2006. The archaeological investigations enabled us to identify stratigraphic contexts and material assemblages rarely found from this period (Late Bronze Age/Early Iron Age) in this region, including ceramic vessels and one amber necklace. The site and its features are discussed in the context of their surroundings (Estremadura). The interpretation of the data is complemented with an evaluation of the human settlement at the regional level during the aforementioned chronological periods. Supra-regional dynamics are explored by considering amber circulation in Iberia during proto-historic and historic times. The nature of the use of the site also contributes to an understanding of the ritual deposition of artefacts and networks of product circulation in the Mediterranean.