Location:

Seville-San José de La Rinconada Road

The archaeological site is known as an authentic “tell”, which is an Arabic term for an artificial mound formed by the accumulation of archaeological remains from one civilization over another.

Research shows a chronology of the different settlements, dating the first back to the mid-8th century BC until the early 1st century BC.

These chronological settlements have been identified based on the artefacts discovered during various excavation campaigns at the site, including the remains of Tartessian stroke burnished pottery, Phoenician red slip ware, the distinctive striped-decorated Iberian potteries, artefacts from Greek trade, and even black-glazed Roman Campanian potteries. It is worth highlighting the large number of amphorae pieces that have been discovered, primarily used to transport products such as wheat, oil, and wine. This shows the relevance of Cerro Macareno’s Site as an inland port, given that the Guadalquivir River bordered the site in its early stages.

The Archaeological Museum’s collection include an exhibition showcasing the evolution of pottery during the cultural development of the Cerro Macareno Archaeological Site.

A motion was presented at the ordinary meeting of La Rinconada Town Hall’s plenary session on 15 February 2017. The application for the cataloguing of Cerro Macareno as a Cultural Heritage Site (BIC in Spanish) was unanimously approved.

The “Cerro Macareno” General Research Project is led by the University of Seville, in collaboration with La Rinconada Town Hall and the Francisco Sousa Archaeological Museum. Since 2017, Cerro Macareno has hosted various archaeological campaigns, whose main aim is to study the prehistoric Guadalquivir River archaeological site. This site had continuous human occupation from the 8th to the 1st century BC. According to experts, the Cerro Macareno settlement, along with the Carambolo and Carmona archaeological sites, can be considered one of the major historiographic landmarks of the Protohistory in the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula.

Until March 2023, the Cultural Heritage Commission did not give the approval to initiate the proceeding to register this site as a BIC Archaeological Zone in the Andalusian Cultural Heritage General Catalogue. Thanks to years of support from the scientific community, a document with around 200 signs was presented to the Junta de Andalucía (Regional Government of Andalusia), requesting the prompt recognition of this site as a BIC.

The technical dossier includes specific instructions to preserve the current state of the Cerro Macareno Archaeological Site. This applies to both the site itself and the surroundings. It also regulates the development of the existing uses and the introduction of new ones in the area. All activities must be compatible with the recognised heritage values of the archaeological site.

Being designated as a BIC ensures that the Cerro Macareno Archaeological Site receives the highest level of protection. This status guarantees the utmost safeguarding and allows the site to face the future while showcasing its huge value. This designation allows for continued news excavations and research. It also enables ongoing collaboration with the University and the launch of an exciting project to transform Cerro Macareno into a museum. A protective green belt will be created to help recreate the lives and civilisations of those who inhabited the zone. This reconstruction of our history will focus on three fundamental periods: The Tartessian, the Tudetanian, and the Roman.

Bibliographic Reference

Aspectos históricos de la Villa de La Rinconada y de su Barrio San José, Manuel Alfonso Rincón; Diputación de Sevilla y Excmo. Ayuntamiento de La Rinconada.