Archaeological research has unlocked incredible stories about the society of El Argar. This civilization, located on what today is the southeastern Iberian Peninsula, flourished more than 4,000 years ago and points to a sophisticated social organization. This innovative study was just published in the Journal of Archaeological Science. It uncovers the production habits of El Argar pottery and demonstrates how they allow us to piece together the presence of a hierarchical society within this ancient civilization.
The El Argar society lived in a huge territory that went from present-day Alicante to Granada and Jaén. Scientists also analyzed thousands of pottery artifacts. Their goal was to reveal the intricacies of resource allocation, technical expertise, and product distribution in this highly developed civilization. Together, these findings paint a picture of a deeply coordinated community that exhibited both centralization and specialization in its production methods.
Specialized Pottery Production
Among other equally unique characteristics, one of the most defining marks of the El Argar civilization is its specialized pottery production. Over the course of 600 years, this society only produced eight different forms of vessels. This lack of diversity only serves to underscore their remarkable sameness. The ceramic wares ranged from tiny cups, likely used for ritual offerings, to enormous vessels that could hold over 250 liters.
The uniformity of form, function, and precision in design indicate a well-organized system of pottery production. These choices were surely influenced by public outcry and a lack of resources. The near-total lack of non-figurative adornment over such a long span suggests a priority on practicality. It was an intentional decision to favor usefulness instead of superficial ornamentation. This defining feature uniquely illustrates the lack of emphasis on decorative art forms by broader civilizations sharing the same time period as El Argar.
Most of the pottery found in El Argar’s political and administrative capitals was non-local in origin. Rather, it came from longhouses located in the more mountainous lands of the wide coastal southeastern triangle. This last detail indicates an intricate network of personally and professionally motivated actors involved in purchasing and transporting resources. It points to a remarkable understanding of trade and logistics for the period.
Insights into Societal Organization
In a pioneering research effort, scientists studied an expansive area measuring about 5,200 square kilometers. From these data they analyzed the production and circulation patterns of pottery production at multiple sites across El Argar society. The investigation involved detailed geo-archaeological surveys and ceramic provenance analysis, focusing on four primary settlements: Tira del Lienzo, Ifre, Zapata, and Cabezo Negro.
These settlements provided critical insights into how the El Argar society managed resources and coordinated production efforts across various locations. These results make it clear that the El Argar community was able to organize management of their resources at a supra-local level. This is an indication that they functioned with a level of complexity that was exceptional even among societies today.
On the researchers’ radar were raw material deposits around the world. This allowed them to figure out the sedimentary and petrographic compositions that would be needed in order to create pottery. This meticulous approach has enabled them to draw conclusions about how the El Argar society was structured and how its members interacted with one another.
The Centralized State Model
This research indicates that the El Argar state model was already marked by centralization and specialization almost 4,000 years ago. This is an important observation. It calls attention to an ancient model of human society that just might have provided the foundation for all later cultures in the area.
These conclusions upend long-standing beliefs about the supposed simplicity of ancient people in this important region. El Argar was a very advanced civilization. They developed complex systems of resource management, specialized production and wide-ranging trade. These are the kinds of insights that lead to greater understandings of the nature of social hierarchy and economic practices in ancient Iberia.