THE BONE INDUSTRY OF LOS MILLARES. FROM LUIS SIRET TO PRESENT

Abstract

Thanks to his scientific and artistic academic background, Luis Siret’s studies considered some aspects disregarded by his contemporaries 100 years ago. Even though it has been considered that Siret had less interest in the bone industry than in other topics, his observations, experiments, and analysis at Los Millares (Santa Fe de Mondújar, Almería) show the opposite. His working methodology set the basis for the archaeological investigation we practice nowadays. Based on these studies and taking into account recent discoveries, we will examine the materials of animal origin found in the necropolis area of the site. This material preserved in the Museo Arqueológico Nacional will be analysed and a preliminary study of the necropolis will be presented in this paper. This worked bones assemblage includes more than three thousand pieces made of different animal resources and characterized by a great number of symbolic items, ornaments and a few pointed tools.