Reconstructed cross section of an archaelogical excavation Archaeology 1 (The first investigations)

The display area dedicated toArchaeological Research is a themed tour rising over different levels and occupies the same space on the ground and first and second floors. This area illustrates different methods and branches of science that support a historian's work. On the ground floor is a reconstruction of an archaeological section during the excavation process.

Luis Siret and Almería

Luis Siret is one of the most relevant archaeological researchers in Europe from the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. In 1881, when he was 21 years old and graduates as the head student of the Superior Mines School of Lovaina, he gets hired by the Mining Company of Almería, and gets installed in Cuevas del Almanzora with his brother Enrique.

During the following years, the Siret brothers develop a great archaeological activity, excavating and doing prospections, studying almost fifty sites which allowed to establish the first prehistoric sequence of the Southeast of the península.

The sites of El Argar, Lugarico Viejo and Fuente Vermeja (Antas), El Oficio and Fuente Álamo (Cuevas del Almanzora) and Gatas (Turre) become the base for their study on the argaric society, published in 1887 in a majestic work named: Les premiers âges du métal dans le sud-est de l´Espagne. This book, ilustraed with 70 beautiful plates, provokes and inmense admiration in the scientific world and obtained many awards.

Around 1890, Luis Siret starts to excavate in Los Millares (Santa Fe de Mondújar) with the help of his foreman and friend, Pedro Flores. In 1893, he publishes L´Espagne préhistorique with their findings.

After a crisis period of (1890 – 1900), Siret resumes his archaeological activities, showing them in specialized magazines and books like Villaricos y Herrerías: antigüedades púnicas, romanas, visigóticas y árabes (1909).