Object type
skull
Culture/period
Protohistory and Iberian world
Materials
bone, iron
Technique
openwork
Mint
Production date
-300 / -200
Current location
Reserva provisonal
Archaeological site
Puig Castellar
Township
Santa Coloma de Gramenet (Europa, Espanya, Catalunya, Barcelona, Barcelonès)
Dimensions
149 x 210 mm
Description
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This is the first documented example of a nailed skull in Catalonia. It was found during excavations in the village of Puig Castellar (Santa Coloma de Gramenet, el Barcelonès) in the early twentieth century. It comes from the collection donated by Ferran Sagarra.
Skull of an adult female between 30 and 40 years old. It presents the remains of a small bone tumour in the rear. The wear on the few teeth preserved is remarkable. Defleshing marks are visible on the front. The iron nail used to attach it to a wooden structure was more than 20 cm long and before inserting it, the bone was prepared to prevent it fracturing.
Some more nailed skulls are known; especially significant are the set from Ullastret, and remains of skulls on the hill of Ca n'Olivé (Cerdanyola, el Vallès Occidental). They are associated with a type of Celtic tradition that, in the Iberian Peninsula, did not exceed the limits of the River Llobregat and was concentrated in the populations of the Indigetas and Laietans.
BOSCH GIMPERA, P. 1915-1920, El donatiu de Puig Castellar, per D. Ferran de Sagarra, l'lnstitut d'Estudis Catalans, Annuari de i'lnstitut d'Estudis Catalans VI, 593-597.
ROVIRA HORTALÀ, C. 1998, L'exhibició d'armes i cranis enclavats en els hàbitats ibers septentrionals, Cypsela 12, 167-182.
© Museu d'Arqueologia de Catalunya - Barcelona
Omeka ID
2643