Archaeologists have made a groundbreaking discovery about the construction techniques of the ancient Tartessos culture in Spain. Tartessos was a prosperous civilization that thrived in the western Mediterranean region, and their sustainable building practices are now shedding light on innovative approaches to construction that could inspire modern eco-friendly design.
Discovering the Architectural Genius of Tartessos
A group of researchers from the Universities of Helsinki and Murcia, as well as the Institute of Archaeology (CSIC—Junta de Extremadura) recently carried out a study in which they analyzed for the first time 50 kilograms brought to Europe by one or more societies using horses controlled productivity at the Turuñuelo site near Guareña, Spain. A monumental building has been reconstructed, as well as the preservation of an outer facies of the best preserved earthen building in western Mediterranean.
As Marta Lorenzon from University of Helsinki, who was one of the main members of the research team put it: “We wonder what kind of technology these people use, how they manipulated their environment, and what social agencies are enabling them to build such beautiful architecture.” Based on an analysis of earthen materials use, labor organization and community skill levels; they have called out a locally evolved sustainable building approach for the region.
How Things Were Built More Sustainably in the Past
Naturally, these research results indicate that the Tartessians were using an advanced form of earthen construction building that was both environmentally beneficial and practical. Benjamín Cutillas Victoria, who co-wrote the study, explains that this type of construction was clearly successful for the Tartessians — and reveals a different layer to our understanding of their architecture and culture.
This feat showcases the high level of architectural sophistication of the Tartessians, as well reveals their respect for the natural surroundings in which they were constructing. This study may allow us to glimpse the ancient sustainable building models that can offer ideas for contemporary construction, says Dr. Marta Lorenzon. Obtaining practices that harmonize the use of local and natural resources could provide ideas for sustainable building methods today.
For Modern Project Management Practices
The experiments were able to offer insights into sustainable construction, and the research offers important lessons for contemporary project management and workforce coordination. Understanding how societies in the past could manage labor and resources is itself a way of extrapolating new ideas for building projects as we speak.
Lorenzon says the study “unearths extremely rare evidence of these little-studied ancient marine foragers.” He adds, “Being able to piece together these old ways of doing things provides a really fascinating glimpse into how our proto-historic culture managed to live and adapt in what must have been an incredibly challenging situation,” says Lorenzon. The objective of this research is not only to tell the story of history, but also to suggest a potential tool for sustainable construction in the coming times.
