Offerings in the wetland: the Iberian sanctuary of Haza del Rayo (Sabiote, Jaen)

We present a new Iberian sanctuary situated on the hill known as La Loma de Ubeda (Jaen), located at a key connecting point between the Guadalquivir and Guadalimar valleys. It is an open-air site with a 3rd century BCE votive deposit. A large part of the interest in this case study lies in the application of a strongly interdisciplinary protocol which combines archaeological excavations, systematic magnetic micro-surveying and combined analyses (soil micromorphology, pollen and phytolith analyses, OSL datings, 3D groundpenetrating radar studies and metallographic analysis). This protocol has made it possible to document the ritual dynamics involving this small area of paleo-wetland. The site is placed at a key point on the ritual itinerary between the town of Baecula (Santo Tome, Jaen) and the sanctuary of La Cueva de la Lobera in Castellar (Jaen). The present study reveals the complexity of the religious landscapes in a territory similar to that of Castulo (Linares, Jaen) in the 4th and 3rd centuries BCE, in which the natural landmarks with strong specific cultural significances played an important role.