Iberian Period
Few remains from the Iberian period have been found in Jávea’s municipal area and almost all of them have been casual finds, such as the sparse remains from Els Tossalets and El Rebaldí or the numerous but late (second century B.C.) pottery items found near Carrer Teular (Teular St).
The best-known archaeological find from the region to date, the “Iberian Treasure of Jávea,” consists of various pieces of gold and silver.
A gold diadem (37.2cm long and 8.2cm wide, weighing 1,336 grams) composed of three plates or sheets of gold, a central, rectangular one and two smaller, triangular ones at the ends. This piece, designed as a head ornament, is decorated with some fine, snake-like or meandering forms and is without doubt the best-quality piece in the collection.
The following pieces are also made of gold: two loosely-braided necklaces and fragments of another one made of fine intertwined chains, an egg-shaped brooch and a tightly-braided chain.
The silver pieces, much less elaborate (weighing 240 grams) are as follows: a snake-shaped bracelet, three spiral straps and fragments of seven others.
The Iberian Treasure of Jávea-Xàbia, found in 1904, appeared inside a pottery vessel discovered by chance in the course of agricultural work in the “Partida de la Lluca,” just where the Golf Club is now.
This collection of jewels dates from the third to second centuries B.C. |
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