Age of the artistic representations: The oldest engravings have been dated to the Copper Age and have even been linked to the megalithic culture. Other engravings are attributed to the Bronze Age and the Iron Age, based on depictions identified as shields. The most recent ones date from the Roman or Late Roman periods. Some petroglyphs contain engravings from different periods and using different techniques, suggesting that the sites chosen for this art form have been visited repeatedly over time.
General description of the destination: The Casar de Palomero’s petroglyphs group is one of the most unique in Las Hurdes, particularly due to the variety of motifs depicted. At Vegacha del Rozo (Azabal) we find, amongst other depictions, the figure of an anthropomorphic figure created using the pecking technique, showing a figure with short legs and long arms bent at an angle, raised, displaying large hands with splayed fingers. There are two further anthropomorphic figures, one complete and the remains of another. This type of anthropomorphic figure is frequently found in contexts dating from the Bronze Age to the Iron Age, that is, around 2,000 to 3,500 years ago. Furthermore, this collection features engravings made using the incised line technique, featuring triangular, rectangular and spindle-shaped geometric motifs. Various weapons are also depicted, such as arrowheads, a possible halberd and a flat-bladed knife. The latter is reminiscent of the knives used by the Vettones, an Iron Age people who inhabited these lands. At Lagar de la Hoya (Azabal), we can see an elongated, sloping rock outcrop on the hillside that has been engraved with various motifs. At the highest part of the rock, very schematic rectangular, triangular and rhomboidal motifs can be seen, crossed by a longitudinal line. Furthermore, there is a long longitudinal line, topped by short intersecting lines. In the lower section, the motifs are entirely different, featuring quadrangular, pentagonal or oval shapes with circles in the centre or longitudinal lines. We are likely looking at depictions of wooden shields from the Iron Age or the Roman period, with metal umbos or wooden spikes, characteristic of that era. Based on these possible parallels, we can date these engravings to between the Iron Age and the Roman period. Finally, at the Piedra de la Rueca in Puerto del Gamo, we find a large, prominent rock offering a commanding view of the landscape. With its characteristic shape reminiscent of a chair, it is covered in a tangle of intersecting straight lines engraved across its entire surface. At a glance, we see an irregular grid covering almost the entire rock, surrounded by other depictions such as arrowheads, arches, ladder-like patterns, cup marks, etc. Amongst these, a spindle-shaped figure stands out, resembling a spinning wheel and giving its name to this rock art site. The ‘spinning wheel’ consists of three concentric ovals crossed by a central line. Small cup marks have been carved above them.
History of the site: In the region of Las Hurdes, a series of petroglyphs has been known since time immemorial; due to their number and unique characteristics, they have formed a distinct group with its own identity within the post-Palaeolithic rock art of the Iberian Peninsula. Their discovery and preliminary study are relatively recent (late 20th century), and a systematic study is still pending. The Teso de los Cuchillos site was discovered in 1953, when one of the engineers responsible for the reforestation of Las Hurdes noticed the existence of an engraving. Subsequently, in 1956, some of them were studied by the researcher M. Sayans Castaños. It was not until the 1980s that the petroglyphs became the subject of a doctoral thesis, written by María del Carmen Sevillano San José. Later, researchers such as Luis Benito del Rey and Ramón Grande del Brio resumed their study.
Museographic resources description: The (rock)ART-POINTS app features a video guide to the three sites in this rock art area: https://artpoints.prehistour.eu/points/19
