Limerick student Carol helps discover ancient Spanish tombs
A LIMERICK geology student has helped excavate nine cremation tombs dating back to the 5th century BC in central Spain.
Carol Dempsey, a Geology student at University College Cork, joined a team of archaeologists and archaeology students from the United States, Spain, Ireland and Britain last month and has just returned home from the trip.
There, she worked on an archaeological dig to unearth an Iron Age/Celtic necropolis dating to the 5th century BC at the settlement of Pintia in Valladolid, central Spain.
The crew excavated nine cremation tombs belonging to the Vaccean culture, adding to nearly 200 burials discovered over the past decade at Pintia. The Vacceans were an early Celtic society in northern Europe, who founded the cities of Pallantia and Pintia.
Research in this area of the site is helping investigators understand better the social organisation of these pre-Roman peoples.
Two notable tombs were found completely intact, including several ceramic pendants carved to resemble metallic jewelry. The Pintia participants learned excavation and surveying techniques, plus how to treat and catalogue artifacts.
Ms Dempsey travelled with ArchaeoSpain, an educational and archaeological organisation based in Connecticut and Madrid,.
ArchaeoSpain teams consist of around 10 participants from around the world who join Spanish crews of 10 to 20 more people.
"Carol and her co-workers have learned not only how to conduct an excavation but also how to interpret the archaeological clues discovered. Over the past few years, our joint Spanish-international crews have uncovered priceless information about Spain's ancient past," said ArchaeoSpain director Mike Elkin.
In recent years, ArchaeoSpain has assisted in major discoveries at various sites in Spain and Italy. The group are currently excavating a Byzantine settlement dating to the 6th century in Mallorca.
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Tuesday 22 May 2012
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