Berzocana Hoard

The craftsmanship in precious metals typical of the Late Bronze Age in the Iberian Peninsula is formed by large, chunky pieces, often decorated with geometric shapes made using a graver. This style is known as the Sagrajas/Berzocana because of the two most representative discoveries, one of which is this one. Findings of this type of jewellery mainly occur across Extremadura in Spain and in a large part of Portugal, in the form of small hidden hoards away from any inhabited space, sometimes in the vicinity of transit areas, such as river fords or mountain passes. This hoard was originally made up of three large rigid necklaces, called torques. They were found inside a bronze vessel made in a western Mediterranean workshop. Torques and other chunky and very heavy jewellery seem to suggest a ritualised use of gold, related to social exchanges in which women played a central role.