Publication: Las cuevas "sagradas". Perduración del simbolismo mágico-religioso de mitologemas protohistóricos en cavidades del Sureste Peninsular
Authors
Ocharan Ibarra, José Ángel
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Escuelas::Escuela Internacional de Doctorado
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Schriewer, Klaus ; Rico Becerra, Juan Ignacio
Publisher
Universidad de Murcia
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DOI
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info:eu-repo/semantics/doctoralThesis
Description
Abstract
Esta tesis analiza la persistencia simbólica de ciertas cavidades naturales del Sureste Peninsular que han sido consideradas lugares sagrados desde la Prehistoria hasta nuestros días. La investigación combina herramientas de la arqueología, la etnografía, la historiografía y la arqueo-astronomía para examinar la continuidad de mitologemas fundamentales, particularmente los asociados al agua, lo femenino y el calendario solar, que estructuran su significación sagrada a través del tiempo. El trabajo parte de la hipótesis de que algunas cuevas han mantenido su carácter sacro mediante un proceso de resignificación cultural, adoptando nuevas formas religiosas, principalmente cristianas, pero conservando sus núcleos simbólicos esenciales.
El objetivo general consiste en demostrar la continuidad de la consideración mágico-religiosa de estas cavidades mediante el aislamiento de mitologemas persistentes, entendidos como estructuras míticas fundamentales, que han facilitado su reinterpretación en distintos contextos religiosos. Los objetivos específicos abarcan desde la identificación arqueológica de cavidades con uso cultual en época prerromana, pasando por el estudio de procesos históricos de sincretismo, hasta la recolección etnográfica de creencias populares actuales que evidencian esta continuidad simbólica. Además, se incorpora un análisis arqueo-astronómico para investigar la orientación astronómica de las cuevas respecto a fenómenos calendáricos.
La metodología empleada combina enfoques cuantitativos y cualitativos estructurados en tres fases: La primera (arqueológica) consistió en la prospección y excavación de cavidades con posibles usos cultuales. La segunda (antropológica) integró el análisis documental, entrevistas cualitativas y recolección de relatos orales en comunidades rurales del sureste, predominantemente con mujeres mayores. Finalmente, se complementó con estudios astrofísicos y una comparación transcultural con santuarios rupestres del Próximo Oriente.
Los resultados permiten sostener que determinadas cavidades muestran una persistencia significativa en su consideración como espacios liminales o sacros, con una simbología recurrente centrada en el arquetipo femenino, el agua, la fertilidad y el calendario solar. Esta continuidad sugiere la existencia de mitologemas cuya función ritual y cultural ha sobrevivido mediante procesos de resignificación histórica. El estudio demuestra que Cueva Negra, La Nariz, La Fuensanta/La Luz/Pozo Moreno y La Esperanza son espacios sagrados donde la conexión entre el agua, la cueva y la religiosidad ha perdurado a través de los siglos. Los hallazgos arqueológicos confirman un uso cultual ibérico, centrado en el agua y su relación con ciclos naturales y astros. Las leyendas actuales mantienen viva esta conexión, con el agua y, frecuentemente, figuras femeninas, como elementos centrales de su sacralidad. Se constató que en el 100% de los testimonios recogidos se mantenía el mitologema Agua.
Este estudio ha demostrado la persistencia y transformación de un mitologema protohistórico central en las cuevas del Sureste Peninsular, desde la época ibérica hasta la actualidad. Dicho mitologema gira en torno a la veneración de una figura femenina, asociada al agua, que simboliza la fertilidad, la curación y la regeneración.
-La evidencia arqueológica de los santuarios rupestres ibéricos, junto con la rica tradición oral recogida en las entrevistas, confirman la importancia de este mitologema a lo largo del tiempo.
-El agua emerge como elemento clave de la sacralidad, presente tanto en los rituales del pasado como en las creencias actuales.
-El mitologema central ha experimentado adaptaciones a las diferentes culturas y religiones, incluyendo la cristianización, la posible influencia fenicio-púnica, e incluso la época de dominación musulmana.
La tesis observa una continuidad en la concepción mágico-religiosa de algunas cavidades a partir de la época fenicia, defendiendo que en este momento se crean los mitologemas que las diferentes sociedades adaptan a sus realidades. A pesar de los cambios religiosos, estas cuevas han mantenido su carácter numinoso. Ya sea mediante leyendas o directamente cristianizadas en todas ellas detectamos el Agua como mitologema principal mantenido desde la protohistoria a la actualidad.
This thesis analyses the symbolic persistence of certain natural caves in the south-east of the Iberian Peninsula that have been considered sacred places from prehistoric times to the present day. The research combines tools from archaeology, ethnography, historiography and archaeoastronomy to examine the continuity of fundamental mythological themes, particularly those associated with water, the feminine and the solar calendar, which structure their sacred significance over time. The work is based on the hypothesis that some caves have maintained their sacred character through a process of cultural re-signification, adopting new religious forms, mainly Christian, but retaining their essential symbolic cores. The general objective is to demonstrate the continuity of the magical-religious consideration of these cavities by isolating persistent mythologems, understood as fundamental mythical structures, which have facilitated their reinterpretation in different religious contexts. The specific objectives range from the archaeological identification of cavities used for cult purposes in pre-Roman times, through the study of historical processes of syncretism, to the ethnographic collection of current popular beliefs that demonstrate this symbolic continuity. In addition, an archaeo-astronomical analysis is incorporated to investigate the astronomical orientation of the caves with respect to calendrical phenomena. The methodology employed combines quantitative and qualitative approaches structured in three phases: The first (archaeological) consisted of the prospecting and excavation of cavities with possible cultic uses. The second (anthropological) integrated documentary analysis, qualitative interviews and the collection of oral accounts in rural communities in the southeast, predominantly with older women. Finally, it was complemented by astrophysical studies and a cross-cultural comparison with rock sanctuaries in the Near East. The results suggest that certain caves show significant persistence in their consideration as liminal or sacred spaces, with recurring symbolism centred on the female archetype, water, fertility and the solar calendar. This continuity suggests the existence of mythologems whose ritual and cultural function has survived through processes of historical reinterpretation. The study demonstrates that Cueva Negra, La Nariz, La Fuensanta/La Luz/Pozo Moreno and La Esperanza are sacred spaces where the connection between water, caves and religiosity has endured through the centuries. Archaeological findings confirm an Iberian cultic use, centred on water and its relationship with natural cycles and the stars. Current legends keep this connection alive, with water and, frequently, female figures as central elements of their sacredness. It was found that 100% of the testimonies collected maintained the mythologem of Water. This study has demonstrated the persistence and transformation of a central protohistoric mythological theme in the caves of the south-east of the peninsula, from the Iberian period to the present day. This mythological theme revolves around the veneration of a female figure associated with water, symbolising fertility, healing and regeneration. -Archaeological evidence from Iberian rock sanctuaries, together with the rich oral tradition collected in the interviews, confirm the importance of this mythological theme over time. -Water emerges as a key element of sacredness, present in both past rituals and current beliefs. -The central mythological theme has undergone adaptations to different cultures and religions, including Christianisation, possible Phoenician-Punic influence, and even the period of Muslim domination. The thesis observes a continuity in the magical-religious conception of some caves since Phoenician times, arguing that it was at this time that the mythological themes were created, which different societies adapted to their realities. Despite religious changes, these caves have retained their numinous character. Whether through legends or directly Christianised, in all of them we detect Water as the main mythologem maintained from protohistory to the present day.
This thesis analyses the symbolic persistence of certain natural caves in the south-east of the Iberian Peninsula that have been considered sacred places from prehistoric times to the present day. The research combines tools from archaeology, ethnography, historiography and archaeoastronomy to examine the continuity of fundamental mythological themes, particularly those associated with water, the feminine and the solar calendar, which structure their sacred significance over time. The work is based on the hypothesis that some caves have maintained their sacred character through a process of cultural re-signification, adopting new religious forms, mainly Christian, but retaining their essential symbolic cores. The general objective is to demonstrate the continuity of the magical-religious consideration of these cavities by isolating persistent mythologems, understood as fundamental mythical structures, which have facilitated their reinterpretation in different religious contexts. The specific objectives range from the archaeological identification of cavities used for cult purposes in pre-Roman times, through the study of historical processes of syncretism, to the ethnographic collection of current popular beliefs that demonstrate this symbolic continuity. In addition, an archaeo-astronomical analysis is incorporated to investigate the astronomical orientation of the caves with respect to calendrical phenomena. The methodology employed combines quantitative and qualitative approaches structured in three phases: The first (archaeological) consisted of the prospecting and excavation of cavities with possible cultic uses. The second (anthropological) integrated documentary analysis, qualitative interviews and the collection of oral accounts in rural communities in the southeast, predominantly with older women. Finally, it was complemented by astrophysical studies and a cross-cultural comparison with rock sanctuaries in the Near East. The results suggest that certain caves show significant persistence in their consideration as liminal or sacred spaces, with recurring symbolism centred on the female archetype, water, fertility and the solar calendar. This continuity suggests the existence of mythologems whose ritual and cultural function has survived through processes of historical reinterpretation. The study demonstrates that Cueva Negra, La Nariz, La Fuensanta/La Luz/Pozo Moreno and La Esperanza are sacred spaces where the connection between water, caves and religiosity has endured through the centuries. Archaeological findings confirm an Iberian cultic use, centred on water and its relationship with natural cycles and the stars. Current legends keep this connection alive, with water and, frequently, female figures as central elements of their sacredness. It was found that 100% of the testimonies collected maintained the mythologem of Water. This study has demonstrated the persistence and transformation of a central protohistoric mythological theme in the caves of the south-east of the peninsula, from the Iberian period to the present day. This mythological theme revolves around the veneration of a female figure associated with water, symbolising fertility, healing and regeneration. -Archaeological evidence from Iberian rock sanctuaries, together with the rich oral tradition collected in the interviews, confirm the importance of this mythological theme over time. -Water emerges as a key element of sacredness, present in both past rituals and current beliefs. -The central mythological theme has undergone adaptations to different cultures and religions, including Christianisation, possible Phoenician-Punic influence, and even the period of Muslim domination. The thesis observes a continuity in the magical-religious conception of some caves since Phoenician times, arguing that it was at this time that the mythological themes were created, which different societies adapted to their realities. Despite religious changes, these caves have retained their numinous character. Whether through legends or directly Christianised, in all of them we detect Water as the main mythologem maintained from protohistory to the present day.
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