Decorated bone plaque

This plaque must have been fashioned from quite a large bone, possibly a whale’s cranium. The piece is decorated on one side and has small holes around the edge for securing it. Despite its simple geometric patterns, the incised decoration is very precise and can be related to other exceptional pieces from the same period, like the ornamental comb from Grave 12 at Los Millares or certain idols made of different materials.
It was discovered by Luis Siret in the so called House 21 at the settlement of Almizaraque, alongside other symbolic objects. The "house” was probably a workshop where such items were made and repaired.
The shape of this plaque, given its resemblance to a shoe sole and the existence of other similar forms, suggests that it may be part of a burial costume. The recent recovery of a plaque with similar characteristics interpreted as a pectoral knife sheath has widened the range of possible interpretations for our piece.