In the vicinity of El Fontanar, located in the municipality of Jodar in Andalusia, archaeologists have discovered a monumental stone complex believed to be associated with Iberian cultural rituals. The structure, dated to the Iberian era, features unusual symbolism and architecture that reflect the ancient inhabitants’ understanding of the cosmos and the divine.
The main feature of the site is a vertical stone over five meters high, set on a hillside and supported by two smaller cylindrical boulders. According to researchers, this construction symbolizes the masculine principle and is oriented toward the point where the sun rises on the winter solstice. At that moment, sunlight passes through the upper part of the stone, creating a unique visual effect that is thought to have held sacred significance for the ancient population.
Next to this site, archaeologists identified another structure—a cave with an entrance nearly seven meters high. The entrance is designed to represent the feminine principle: its triangular shape symbolizes the womb, while a massive stone set above evokes the fallopian tubes. Side stones at the base highlight features associated with female anatomy.
On the day of the winter solstice, the shadow cast by a vertical stone points directly toward the entrance of the cave, reaching the lower area where female symbolism is depicted. According to researchers, this moment recreated a mythological scene of a sacred union between deities, which was characteristic of the religious beliefs of the Iberians and other Mediterranean peoples.
Studies show that such rituals were part of a complex mythological system associated with the movements of celestial bodies. In particular, the myth of a hero linked to the sun and a fertility goddess included several stages: the hero’s summoning in August, his descent into the underworld in autumn, return to life in December, and the sacred union in spring. These events were reflected in the architecture and ritual practices common in the Jandulilla river valley and the vicinity of ancient settlements such as Iltiraka and Puente Tablas.
Archaeologists note that similar motifs are found in the myths of other ancient civilizations, including Egypt, Greece, and the Middle East. In Iberian culture, such themes are documented in reliefs and sculptures discovered in various regions of Spain; however, the monument at El Fontanar stands out for its scale and unique execution.
The research findings were published in a scientific journal dedicated to the memory of the renowned archaeologist Teresa Chapa, who made a significant contribution to the study of Iberian archaeology in Andalusia.
