Male bust from the sanctuary of Torrebenzalá (Torredonjimeno, Jaén, Spain)

Male bust very affected by breaks that have caused the disappearance of the right side of the figure and the back of it. Prominent and prominent head, with an elongated shape and a pointed chin. The features of the face are intuited, although with a poor state of conservation. The left eye is appreciated, almond shaped, in relief and with double line of marked outline. The nose has been lost, although it is preserved a fine mouth made by a simple horizontal line. It is interesting to mark the hairstyle like two small and short braids that fall behind the ears. The hair is indicated with a set of fine incised lines in different directions, which perfectly simulate the collected one. The preserved braid (left) frames an outstanding flagged ear; an outstanding attribute in the representation. The thin, curved neck links in a straight developing shoulder. Chronology: II-I centuries B.C. Dimensions: 14.35 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 Upper Guadalquivir (ss. IV a.n.e.-I d.n.e.)CAAI texts. Jaén. University of Jaén.