Iron Age gold in Northwestern Iberia: technology, chronology and social meaning

The aim of this contribution is to assess some of the key topics and research challenges concerning Iron Age goldwork from northwestern Iberia in the light of new data and recent research. The study of the Recouso hoard ? one of the most important gold finds in this area ? allows us to emphasise technological variability as one of the basic features of this goldworking tradition, as had been already proposed. Secondly, an analysis of the representation of torcs in the material culture of the area is made in order to illustrate the polysemic nature of this object. In addition, chronological information provided by recent fieldwork and radiocarbon dating is discussed to gain new insight into the origins and periodization of these gold items. Taken as a whole, all this information offers a better understanding of the role of precious metals in Iron Age society.

Northwestern Iberian Peninsula. Iron Age society. Goldwork. X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF). Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Radiocarbon dating. Iconography.