Aerial view of the Copper Age fortification located in Almendralejo A chance discovery during a solar plant construction project in Almendralejo, Spain, has provided archaeologists with a rare glimpse into the Copper Age workers stumbled upon the remains of a vast set ablaze and abandoned after four centuries of use The excavation has revealed new insights into the conflict-ridden nature of the Chalcolithic period and the sophisticated organization of early societies Archaeologists believe Cortijo Lobato was designed to withstand prolonged attacks reinforced by three defensive ditches up to six feet deep was a strategic bottleneck meant to restrict invaders The settlement’s design was not only defensive but also showcased a high level of social organization "The sophistication of the defensive design and the need for a large workforce reinforce the idea of a structured and well-organized community," said lead archaeologist César Pérez The fort’s destruction was deliberate. Carbon dating of animal remains found in the fire's ashes places its downfall around 2450 B.C “One of the strongest indications that this was an intentional act is the burning of wooden doors embedded in the adobe walls,” Pérez explained “These doors were far from other flammable materials which suggests that the fire was not accidental but rather the result of an assault on the fortification.” Archaeologists found evidence of occupation stretching across multiple historical periods. Alongside the Copper Age settlement, researchers identified five additional sites from the Bronze and Iron Ages 11 archaeological sites have been discovered in the area One of the most intriguing finds was a burial near a defensive ditch from the Roman period The grave contained the remains of a man between 25 and 35 years old “This suggests the individual may have had a military role as the pugio was the standard dagger used by Roman legionnaires.” The shallow nature of the grave hints at a hasty burial possibly the result of a dishonorable death The only Roman legion stationed in Spain at the time was Legio VII Gemina, founded in 74 A.D. This legion specialized in road surveillance and security rather than direct military campaigns The unusual placement of the pugio and the severed feet add to the mystery surrounding this individual’s fate The excavation has yielded a wealth of artifacts shedding light on the daily lives of Cortijo Lobato’s inhabitants The presence of loom weights suggests a textile industry while the abundance of arrowheads points to frequent conflict attackers would have struggled to breach its walls provided a commanding view of the landscape allowing inhabitants to monitor potential threats from afar Despite its strategic advantages, the fort was ultimately overrun The attackers not only breached its defenses but also set fire to the settlement “We are seeing more and more in this type of site that the level of conflict in the Chalcolithic period was higher than previously thought,” Pérez stated The Roman-era grave presents more questions than answers The burial’s unconventional nature suggests that the man met a violent end has undergone restoration at Madrid Complutense University to prevent further deterioration Researchers are also attempting to extract DNA from the individual’s teeth to uncover more details about his identity One of the most puzzling aspects of the burial is the missing feet Whether they were removed before or after death remains unclear possibly as punishment or a mark of dishonor This excavation continues to reshape the understanding of Spain’s ancient history The discoveries at Cortijo Lobato highlight both the advancements and the turmoil of early civilizations each artifact and structure uncovered brings archaeologists closer to understanding the people who lived Note: Materials provided above by The Brighter Side of News Content may be edited for style and length Like these kind of feel good stories? Get The Brighter Side of News' newsletter Rebecca Shavit is a dedicated science and technology journalist who writes for The Brighter Side of News an online publication committed to highlighting positive and transformative stories from around the world With a passion for uncovering groundbreaking discoveries and innovations she brings to light the scientific advancements shaping a better future Her reporting spans a wide range of topics from cutting-edge medical breakthroughs and artificial intelligence to green technology and space exploration With a keen ability to translate complex concepts into engaging and accessible stories she makes science and innovation relatable to a broad audience archaeologists in southern Spain uncovered a protohistoric fortress on a remote hilltop While its intricate structure was remarkable the site held an even greater mystery—the remains of an unidentified individual The burial was so striking because the man displayed characteristics typical of a Roman soldier yet he had been laid to rest more than 2,000 years after the fortress had been abandoned this site had been hiding a double surprise from archaeologists for centuries during a preventive excavation ahead of a planned solar panel installation near the town of Almendralejo researchers made an extraordinary discovery—the remains of a Late Neolithic fortress Prehistoric fortifications have been uncovered across the Iberian Peninsula in recent decades with notable sites like Motilla del Azuer in Ciudad Real and La Bastida in Murcia drawing significant interest since the 1970s the monumental size and advanced engineering of this newly discovered fortress in the southern region of Extremadura took experts by surprise Just when archaeologists thought they had uncovered everything another startling discovery emerged—a buried body from the Roman era The find raised numerous questions about how and why he ended up there According to a LiveScience report from February 19 prehistoric constructions of this type were exceptionally well-designed and sophisticated for their time at the transition between the Neolithic and the Bronze Age (circa 3000 BCE) the site showcases a highly developed defensive architecture Aerial imagery reveals the fortress’s elaborate outer walls and internal layout is punctuated by projecting bastions at each corner—an architectural feature mirrored in the fortress’s inner layers allowed defenders to adopt strategic positions to fend off potential invaders The concept of bastioned fortifications became popular in Antiquity but fell out of use during the Middle Ages as warfare tactics evolved They later made a resurgence in the modern era refined by military engineers such as Vauban during the reign of Louis XIV such advanced defensive structures are exceedingly rare in prehistoric fortifications The largest wall spans 77 meters in diameter enclosing two smaller fortifications that protect the central area As if the fortress itself weren’t fascinating enough archaeologists discovered a lone individual buried within its walls While ancient site burials are not unusual this case was anything but typical—the fortress had been abandoned for 2,500 years before the man was laid to rest there estimated to be between 25 and 35 years old at the time of his death a military dagger that was standard issue for Roman legionaries A man who fell ill and was laid to rest in this enigmatic location While it is unlikely he was the victim of a crime or murder the circumstances surrounding his burial remain a mystery The Romans often repurposed ancient monuments as burial sites the ruins of this Bronze Age fortress served as a temporary shelter for passing troops Further forensic analysis may provide crucial insights into his death and what led him to be buried in such an unexpected place this individual developed a passion for science—particularly astronomy—and began writing about it while also practicing sky observation After an internship at Ciel & Espace during journalism studies they decided to focus on writing scientific articles Marie Pireddu is a French-English translator specializing in digital marketing She is also a business English trainer for professional adults helping clients master English for international business with a focus on American culture and corporate communication - 15 scientific journalists and 450 experts contribute to Futura - We advocate for science as a source of learning and daily wonder ©2001-2025 Futura - All rights reserved GRANTS: Five young people and five companies will receive funds to implement the best initiatives resulting from their participation in the program ACCIONA Energía and the City Council of Almendralejo have signed a collaboration agreement that marks the launch of 'Colabora Almendralejo' a social impact management initiative related to the Extremadura I II and III photovoltaic plants in Almendralejo ‘Colabora Almendralejo’ seeks to connect 25 young talents and 10 companies to work together and promote sustainability and employability in the municipality The program will be implemented with the support of the company AlmaNatura and it is aimed at young unemployed people from Almendralejo aged between 18 and 35 and companies based in the municipality or with a direct impact on it Registrations are open until 19 December and the main activities of the program will take place between January and March 2023 The young people participating in 'Colabora Almendralejo' will receive free training sessions in various areas such as sustainability and identification of socio-environmental challenges The companies will take part in coaching sessions to identify their main areas for improvement and sustainability challenges the young participants and the companies will work together in a series of co-creation workshops to develop solutions that promote the companies’ sustainability and help them overcome the challenges identified The five best solutions that emerge from this collaboration will receive financial support consisting of 1,600 euros for each of the five selected companies and 700 euros for each of the five young people in charge of assisting in their implementation "The 'Colabora Almendralejo' program follows a social impact study that allowed us to gain in-depth knowledge of the socio-economic reality of the area and it is the result of an open and extensive dialogue with all the stakeholders identified in the area," said Mikel Ortiz de Latierro ACCIONA Energía's Director of Environment "One of the main action lines identified on the social realm was unemployment we have focused on developing young talent and generating spaces for advice and co-creation of solutions with local companies that stimulate job creation and the economy" The City Council of Almendralejo remarked its firm commitment to boost training and entrepreneurship from the different municipal spaces "This type of projects are fundamental for the improvement of employability The promotion of capacity building around key topics is essential to start up a new business project it is very important to accompany and encourage people who have an idea and contribute to consolidating our entrepreneurial system and character" co-founder and head of institutional relations at AlmaNatura added that "'Colabora Almendralejo' seeks to promote the development of talent boost employment and strengthen a network of agents for a positive change that design sustainable and resilient solutions to local challenges These are three essential factors to improve the well-being of people and the environment strengthen the populations roots in the territory and fight against depopulation" The 'Colabora Almendralejo' program is part of the Social Impact Management (SIM) plan for the Extremadura I II and III photovoltaic project that ACCIONA Energía is building in Almendralejo the complex will generate around 257 GWh of clean electricity per year The amount of energy generated is equivalent to the consumption of around 65,000 homes and will avoid the emission of more than 112,000 tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere each year ACCIONA Energía owns and operates other renewable facilities in the Autonomous Community of Extremadura such as the Miajadas biomass plant (15MW) and the Sierra Brava photovoltaic floating plant (1.125MW) and it will build the Logrosan biomass plant (50MW) I accept Information on data protection In compliance with Regulation (EU) 2016/679 on Data Protection and with other Data Protection regulations in force you are hereby informed that your personal data shall be processed by Acciona whose identification data are as follows: Tax ID No (NIF): A08001851; Address: Avenida de la Gran Vía de Hortaleza No.: +34 91 663 28 50; email: protecciondedatos@acciona.com Your data shall be processed in order to send you information through the subscription to our Newsletter through electronic means activities and news pertinent 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Furthermore, at any time the data subject may withdraw the granted consent by contacting the aforementioned address and file a claim to the Supervisory Authority (Agencia Española de Protección de Datos www.aepd.es) You can also unsubscribe from the Newsletter communication For any further information you can visit the Privacy Police on the website https://www.acciona.com/privacy-policy/ The competition Europan 16 – Living Cities and José Luis Ramos of the firm Monochrome with a project titled ‘La increíble historia del temporero que encontró en Almendralejo su hogar.’ This municipality has a migrant population With the aim of creating bonds between locals and seasonal workers a complex in poor condition will be refurbished are 160 social-housing units distributed in 18 blocks The architectural solution involves creating a unifying city block that includes public and semi-public services Ground-level dwellings in poor state are removed and replaced by stores and public facilities Elevators are incorporated and a structure is annexed to expand living space and revive the area's lost industrial identity Video there arent any match using your search terms BACOLOD Tay Tung completed its defense of the Rebisco Volleyball League (RVL) national championship by taking down University of Batangas in a 25-16 25-13 sweep on Monday at the Gameville Ball Park in Mandaluyong RVL National Finals MVP Rhose Almendralejo dished out 10 excellent sets in the title game behind 14-point performances apiece from Camila Bartolome and Donna de Leon Ann Shairinie Pesigan led the way for the Batangueñas with nine points to cap a stellar runner-up finish Taking the last podium spot is University of San Jose-Recoletos as it bested Kings’ Montessori School in a tight straight-sets contest through Angel Mae Almonia’s 13 points the league also unveiled its RVL Select 21 that features the best young players from each position in the sixth edition of the biggest private nationwide grassroots development tournament Named to the special circle are five outside hitters “If you’re part of that list, you can be considered among the top players in the age group,” said RVL commissioner and Criss Cross team captain Ysay Marasigan For college scouts on the lookout for the next big thing in Philippine volleyball it might just come from this promising group of up-and-coming stars: Ashley Nicole #6 – Kings’ Montessori School2 Andrea Jade #4 – Linao National High School3 Jea #7 – Notre Dame of Dadiangas University4 Scarlett #10 – University of Batangas5 Virginia Ann #5 – Corpus Christi School Marie Joy #17 – Linao National High School3 Rachel Ann #10 – University of San Jose-Recoletos4 Rheina Joy #3 – Linao National High School5 Stephanie #8 – University of Batangas2 Jayrelle Jhem #11 – Kings’ Montessori School3 Princess Joy #2 – Notre Dame of Dadiangas University Crisanta #2 – Naga College Foundation2 Ruzzel Mae #10 – Notre Dame of Dadiangas University3 Kriesha Faye #11 – Corpus Christi School4 Kriska Morena #8 – Kings’ Montessori School Mary Anthoneth #2 – University of San Jose-Recoletos3 Jamuel Jadel #10 – Corpus Christi School Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph Spin.ph has been granted the NPC Seal of Registration in recognition of the successful registration of its DPO and DPS We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience on Spin.ph. 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Find out more here Archive Competitions A long-time football supporter and booster of the San Beda basketball team passed away on Thursday due to COVID-19 Documentarist and marketing specialist Albert Almendralejo died three days upon admission in the hospital after contracting the deadly virus Almendralejo had been an ardent supporter of football in the country which he did through various projects and platforms an active alumnus and supporter of both the San Beda Red Lions and Red Cubs He was president of SPEARS which was behind the Football for a Better Life (FABL) program that promotes the sport nationwide by conducting football clinics with top coaches and national players The promotion received citations from the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) and the Anvil Awards the outfit produced a documentary film entitled ‘Journeyman Finds Home,’ that chronicled the story of Filipino-Italian football player Simone Rota including his stint with Davao and the Philippine Azkals The film was co-directed by Almendralejo with Maricel Cariaga and shown as an exhibition film at Cinemalaya The FABL also established grassroots programs such as Women Empowerment through Sports an international youth project whose organizer is the NGO Bridging the Gaps a talent idenfitication mission in Mindanao led by national player-turned coach Precy Guarin he was given the official designation by the British Council Philippines to be the group leader and head delegation of 11 top performing athlete-students of the 2011 Batang Pinoy who went to the London Olympics the children stayed and studied at a British boarding school in East Sussex and watched some of the events of the Olympics Veteran PR practitioner and speaking engagement specialist Lito Cinco said Albert was not feeling well the past 10 days and decided to go to the hospital just last August 3 investing his money on producing indie movies,” said Cinco in his Facebook account Cinco said he met Almendralejo more than two decades ago and worked together in a lot of projects mostly involving football and beach football They also served as consultants to then commissioner Chito Loyzaga during his time with the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Spin fans unite at the Spin Viber Community! Join the growing community now and complete the experience by subscribing to the Spin Chatbot It's a historic day for our Juvenil A and Juvenil Madrileño Both teams won in the last match of the regular season to win the the league in the 'División de Honor' It's the first time two juvenil sides from the same club win their groups in the 'División de Honor' Atlético Madrileño beat Hércules in the Ciudad Deportiva 4-0 to become champions of group VII in the ‘Division de Honor’ the lads from our Juvenil A beat Almendralejo 2-0 Aitor Puñal and Joaquin were the goalscorers Both teams will now compete in the Copa de Campeones a tournament between the group winners and best second placed place team that will take place from 30 April to 5 May Get tickets to cheer on Atlético de Madrid Femenino in Alcalá Looking for three more points at the Mendizorroza and website in this browser for the next time I comment