Short thread of illustrations by André Houot on Neolithic Switzerland.
Neolithic necropolis of Corseaux.
Aug 6, 2023 • 19 tweets • 10 min read
NEW IBERIAN COPPER AGE THREAD:
A study published early last month announced the surprising discovery that the so-called "ivory man" from the only known example of individual burial in Chalcolithic Iberia was, in fact, a woman.
First, I recommend you read my thread about Tholos de Montelirio since both stories are closely related, being part of the archaeological site of Valencian de la Concepción.
Today I bring a long thread to introduce you to the mysterious ancient past of the Iberian Peninsula before Bronze, around a river that saw the birth of prosperous civilizations. Stay with me as we dive into the Tholos de Montelirio.
Discovered in 2007, Tholos de Montelirio has become one of the most important archeological sites for understanding the ancient cultures of Southern Iberia during the Copper Age. It's a burial mound from 2850-2700 BC located near Castilleja de Guzmán (Seville, SW Spain),
Apr 20, 2023 • 15 tweets • 7 min read
This thread is a brief follow-up to the one I wrote about the first repopulation in Castilla (Las Merindades). I present to you a legend attributed to this period.
According to legend, at some point close to the death of Alfonso II (842 AD), given the lack of aid and protection from the Kingdom of Asturias (added to their isolation), the early Castilians decided to be more autonomous.
Apr 3, 2023 • 15 tweets • 10 min read
Castile. Birthplace of the Spanish language, big shot of the Reconquista, and perhaps the leading promoter of the nation that is Spain. Unfortunately, even today's Spaniards often overlook its origins. So here I want to present its humble yet crucial beginnings.
CONTEXT
By the first half of the 8th century, most of the last remains of the old Visigothic court, who did not pay allegiance to the Umayyad caliphate or left to the Kingdom of the Franks, took refuge behind the Cantabrian Mountains, and successfully resisted the Muslim invasion
Mar 13, 2023 • 9 tweets • 6 min read
1492, The Taínos of Hispaniola informed Columbus and his crew about a group of fierce warriors who frequently raided the islands, often capturing women, and practiced cannibalism. They were talking about the Caribs, indigenous peoples from whom the Caribbean Sea gets its name.
The Caribs represented the last wave of peopling in the Caribbean before the European colonization, following the footsteps of the Arawaks several centuries ago, emerging from the Orinoco River in Venezuela, sailing to the Antilles, even reaching the Bahamas.