Lineal Megalithic Scripts in widespread rocks, stones and a menhir structure in Zalamea la Real (Huelva, Spain)

Abstract

Zalamea la Real is close to the biggest Mediterranean mines known in ancient times: Riotinto Mines (Huelva, Spain). Zalamea is within the South Iberia Pyrite Belt, which goes from Alcácer do Sal (Portugal) to Seville (Las Cruces Mines, at Gerena/Aznalcollar villages). It is a territory containing a high density of megaliths and neglected rocks/stones on the surrounding area which are rests of them. Zalamea district could be considered a megalithic region and also a megalithic context altogether, which is linked to mines of metal extractions since 3000 years ago. Probably, the main mines furnaces were at Zalamea. This metal richness could explain Tartessos flourishing, which could extend together with both the high megaliths density and the Southern Iberia Pyrite Belt through South Spain and Portugal. Indeed, common Iberian-Tartessian signary (sometimes admixed with Lineal Megalithic Scripts, a primitive evolutionary writing stage) had been used in this Iberian Pyrite Belt area. In the present paper ,we show our findings on Zalamea la Real engraved rocks/stones and menhirs with Lineal Megalithic Scripts and Tartessian signs, and put them in a context of other similar findings in a big European/African area (South Iberia, Canary Islands and South Algeria, Sahara Desert).