Archeologists have unearthed a wide variety of tools that were used by ancient civilizations and left behind. The vast majority of these are carved out of stone, but in Spain, archaeologists have discovered incredible weapons made out of rock crystal. These incredible weapons date back to at least 3000 BCE, and one of them is a dagger made of crystal that must have required an extraordinary amount of skill to carve.
The astonishing find was made in the megalithic tomb of Montelirio tholos, which can be found in the southwestern region of Spain. This enormous site is constructed out of large slate slabs and extends for more than 143 feet in total length. It was excavated between 2007 and 2010, and then, five years later, a study on the crystal tools was published by researchers from the University of Granada, the University of Seville, and the Spanish Higher Research Council. They discovered 25 arrowheads and cores that could be used to construct weapons, in addition to the dagger.
According to the findings of the study, rock crystals can be found relatively frequently in sites dating back to the late prehistoric period in Iberia, but researchers rarely conduct in-depth research on the topic. Examining the setting in which these unique weapons were discovered is the first step in unraveling the mystery of why they were there in the first place.
What kind of artifacts were discovered in the tholos at Montelirio?
Within the Montelirio tholos, the skeletal remains of at least 25 different people were discovered. Based on earlier research, it has been hypothesized that at least one male and several females died as a result of consuming poison. The skeletons of the women were found in a chamber arranged in a circular formation next to the bones of an individual who may have been the leader.
In addition, the tombs held a variety of grave goods, such as “shrouds or clothes made of tens of thousands of perforated beads and decorated with amber beads,” as well as objects made of ivory and pieces of gold blades. The fact that the crystal arrowheads were discovered in a grouping suggests to the investigators that the objects may have been used in some sort of religious ceremony as an offering.
What about the dagger? It was discovered on its own inside of a separate chamber, “in association with an ivory hilt and sheath.” It has a length of just under 21.5 centimeters and resembles other daggers from the time period in both size and form. (Of course, the distinction lies in the fact that those daggers were constructed from flint, whereas this one is made from crystal.)
The Importance of Crystal Armor and Weapons
Because there were no crystal mines in the immediate area, the components for these items would have had to be gathered from a great distance away. This lends credence to the theory that they were designed for a select group of individuals who would have had the financial means to acquire such materials and have them fashioned into weapons. It’s also interesting to note that none of the weapons were linked to a specific person; rather, it seems as though they were intended for the use of the group as a whole.
“They probably represent funerary paraphernalia only accessible to the elite of this time period,” write the researchers. “On the other hand, rock crystal must have had a symbolic significance as a raw material invested with special meanings and connotations. The literature provides examples of societies in which rock crystal and quartz as raw materials symbolize vitality, magical powers, and a connection with ancestors.”
The discovery and study of these weapons continue to give a fascinating insight into the prehistoric cultures that roamed the Earth more than 5,000 years ago, despite the fact that we are unable to be absolutely certain of their exact purpose.
