Astronomy in the sacred precint of Sala de los Moros (Argamasilla de Calatrava, Spain)

Abstract

Isolated at the top of a hill at 900 m with great visibility of the surrounding territory, Sala de Moros is a singular monument in Argamasilla de Calatrava (Ciudad Real, Spain), in northern Pre-Roman Oretania. The main structures consist of a T-shaped chamber covered by blocks of quartzite, which is surrounded by a wall that defined a temenos and it is appreciably different from other nearby structures. This paper presents the results of an archaeoastronomical study that reveals that, besides the implicit symbolism in the election of such an outstanding point in the territory, astronomy may have been integrated in the design of the monument and the development of this outstanding landscape of power. Furthermore, the likely astronomical patterns observed suggest a possible connection between the construction of Sala de Moros with the Iberian aristocracy, while provide a better understanding of the concepts of time in ancient Oretania.