The silver smithy of Tira del Lienzo

The archaeological site of Tira del Lienzo, belonging to the El Argar culture, is a relatively small fortification of 865 square meters. Located on a hill in the Guadalentín valley near Totana, Murcia, it sits just 7.0 km from the regional power center of La Bastida de Totana. While smaller than other sites of its era, it served as a specialized hub for processing and storing cereals, as well as for textile and metal work.

The site is enclosed by a nearly rectangular wall with at least two corner bastions. Inside is a primary 100-square-meter building that has been in continuous use since the settlement's foundation around 2000 BC. This central structure is connected by a narrow hallway to seven smaller buildings. The settlement was eventually abandoned at the end of the El Argar period, between 1600 and 1550 BC.

Archaeological finds indicate that the central building was a multifunctional workspace where at least five people worked simultaneously. Excavations uncovered four blacksmithing tools for forging copper and silver plates, as well as stones showing marks from hammering and embedding metal. Additionally, researchers found stones used for polishing, large stones for grinding grain, and a series of carefully crafted weights for looms.

Because of these findings, the central building is referred to as the "silver smithy" of Tira del Lienzo. Researchers have speculated that the five silver tiaras found to date, which were symbols of the ruling caste, may have been manufactured in this specific workshop. Today, part of the excavation remains open for the public to visit.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons