5 October, 2021

The Vulture Hill

Cerro del Buitre view.

The Vulture Hill (es: Cerro o Cabezo del Buitre) is located on the eastern slope of the Sierra de la Tercia and belongs to the municipality of Lorca. This Sierra is located, in turn, between Sierra Espuña and the Guadalentín Valley. Meanwhile, La Bastida is situated in its northern foothills. Unfortunately, as it happened with our magnificent Argaric site in the 70s, ICONA’s reforestation works, employing heavy machinery, created terraces on areas of archaeological value and wreaked havoc on a Chalcolithic settlement in its northern slope.

Despite this, the excursion to this haunted place is worth it as it belongs to the period right before the Argaric world. It is impressive to see that, more than 4000 years ago, those people selected this strategic spot to establish their residence. Where they also bury their deceased in the multiple cubby-holes found in almost all its slopes. On the one hand, the site is relatively difficult to access, and, as Joaquín Lomba already observed during his surveys, it is considerably remote due to its altitude from the outcrops of water. On the other hand, probably thanks to this, it has been out of reach from the incursions of looters. Why would they settle, then, in this barren place? Everything seems to indicate that they did it for the copper since Sierra de la Tercia is rich in superficial outcrops of malachites and azurites. Therefore, it was an ideal place to obtain that precious metal.

Once on the site, and once again, I invite you to enjoy yourself with the views of the Guadalentín Valley. They are awe-inspiring.Once on the site, and once again, I invite you to enjoy yourself with the views of the Guadalentín Valley. They are awe-inspiring.

AUTHOR: Carlos Velasco

General view of Cerro del Buitre (en: Vulture Hill). On the one hand, we see the ICONA terraces that damaged the Chalcolithic enclave and, on the other, the strategic control of the Guadalentín Valley.

Certainly, these views would captivate anyone.

Proximity view of the rocky ridge with some of the Chalcolithic burial caves. Some of the grave goods recovered in interventions can be seen at the Archaeological Museum of Lorca.

The tendency to bury their deceased in caves like this one could also be a reason to select the location of their town.

Stones with azurite (blue) and malachite (green) formed from copper deposits exposed to the natural elements.