The skull of a middle-aged male, approximately 40 to 50 years old, has been uncovered in Ullastret, an Iberian town in the Baix Emporda region of Catalonia. The skull bears a unique feature—a piercing by an iron nail—an intriguing indication of a ritualistic practice. This custom, known to be prevalent among the Gallic peoples of the Mediterranean and the Iberian tribes in northern Catalonia, involved attaching the head to a wall or another structure.
Following victorious battles, warriors of Ullastret would decapitate their defeated foes and transport the heads back to their homes. The skulls, along with weapons, were prominently displayed on facades, porches, or courtyards, serving as visceral war trophies.
Ullastret, dating back to around 550 BC, represents the largest Iberian settlement in Catalonia from the Iron Age. The heads of conquered enemies were not only prepared but also publicly exhibited alongside seized weapons, providing a unique glimpse into the customs of this ancient civilization.
This ritual, aimed at showcasing the prowess of leaders, mirrors the Celtic tradition of displaying head trophies either on the backs of horses or in front of the homes of triumphant warriors. The inhabitants of Ullastret were the Indiketes, an ancient Iberian people who communicated in the Iberian language.
The Museu Arqueològic d’Ullastret is the site of this intriguing discovery. An exhibition titled “Caps tallats” (cranial trophies) sheds light on this historical practice. The inauguration of the exhibition featured the participation of Ferran Mascarell, the Culture Councilor, and Joan Pluma.
In 218 BC, the Indiketes faced Roman conquest during the Roman colonization of Hispania. Despite their rebellion in 195 BC, led by the Indiketes, they were eventually subdued by the Roman consul Marcus Porcious Cato. This complex historical narrative adds depth to the understanding of the interactions and conflicts between ancient civilizations in the Iberian Peninsula.