Sculpture fragment from the sancturay of Torrebenzalá (Torredonjimeno, Jaén, Spain)

Sculpture fragment in stone representing a head, probably masculine. It is affected by breaks, which cause the lack of the right half of the face. Elongated head, lacking any recognizable hairstyle or headdress. Very marked facial features, highlighting, framed in two curved eyebrows represented by incision, two large eyes characterized by asymmetries not so much in the form as in its disposition, figuring the left something higher than the right. The pupil is highlighted. Both eyes join in a long straight nose, twisted to the right side. The ears, with an inverted tear shape, are equally asymmetrical, characterized by the representation of the auditory pavilion. Mouth reduced to a slight horizontal incision. Chronology: II-I centuries B.C. Dimensions: 12.20 cm The Iberian oppidum of Torrebenzalá is located next to the crossing of the National Highway 321 and the Regional 3219 in the municipality of Torredonjimeno (Jaén). It is located at the top a great hill defined by the streams of La Noria, Cárdenas and Villares, which gives it a privileged and strategic position for the control of the roads that connect the countryside with the Guadalquivir Valley. The archeological site is well known, documenting phases of occupation ranging from the Copper Age to medieval times. Among the most outstanding materials have been documented ceramics of the Copper and Bronze Age, Iberian, Roman and medieval. Lead sarcophagi, coins and sculptures also appeared. From the Iberian period stands out a set of stone exvotes, all found on surface and without contextualizing that would belong to a sanctuary of late epoch, linked to early romanization. Currently these exvotes are kept in the Provincial Museum of Jaén. In addition to the exvotes made in stone there is news of the appearance of a cinerary urn, a female sculpture of great schematism, with rough facial features, head covered by a series of overlapped veils and body carved on a block in the form of a cone trunk in which no other anatomical detail is marked. Bibliography: Marín, Mª C. y Belén, Mª (1986): New Iberian exvotes in the province of Jaén. Annals of the University of Cádiz. Vol. III-IV: 79-106. Wheel, C. (2011): Territory, worship and iconography in the Iberian sanctuaries of Alto Guadalquivir (ss. IV a.n.e.-I d.n.e.), CAAI texts no. 3, University of Jaén.