Researchers at the University of Barcelona have uncovered extraordinary evidence of long-distance Mediterranean trade networks with the discovery of the oldest hippopotamus ivory artifact ever found in the Iberian Peninsula. The remarkable 5,000-year-old object, measuring just over 10 centimeters in length, was discovered at the Copper Age site of Bòbila Madurell near Barcelona and dates to the second quarter of the third millennium BC.
This groundbreaking find challenges previous understanding of ancient trade routes and suggests that prehistoric Iberian communities maintained sophisticated exchange networks extending far beyond the Mediterranean's western shores. The polished ivory artifact, identified as a first lower incisor from Hippopotamus amphibius, bears traces of red pigment and may have served as a textile tool rather than a decorative object.
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The hippopotamus ivory object from northeastern Iberia. (University of Barcelona)
Revolutionary Discovery Rewrites Mediterranean History
The discovery at Bòbila Madurell, conducted by the Prehistoric Studies and Research Seminar (SERP), represents the earliest evidence of hippopotamus ivory in northeastern Iberia. Using advanced techniques including Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR) and radiocarbon dating, researchers confirmed both the material's authenticity and its remarkable age. The artifact was originally excavated in 1977 but remained unidentified until this comprehensive analysis.
The study findings have been published in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports.
José Miguel Morillo León, lead researcher on the project, explained that the finding opens new perspectives on long-distance exchange networks with the eastern Mediterranean. Since hippopotamuses were not present in the Mediterranean during the Copper Age, this ivory must have traveled considerable distances through established trade routes, likely originating from the Nile Valley or other African regions where these animals thrived.
The object's distinctive characteristics include a polished surface and remnants of red pigment composed of iron oxyhydroxides mixed with organic matter such as animal fat or blood. This deliberate coloring suggests the artifact held special significance, possibly related to textile production activities evidenced by ceramic spindle whorls found in the same archaeological context.
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Site location map showing different Bòbila Madurell sectors. (Morillo Leon et al./Jnl of Archaeological Science)
Sophisticated Trade Networks of Prehistoric Catalonia
The Bòbila Madurell site represents one of Europe's most significant Neolithic and Copper Age settlements, spanning approximately 28 hectares in a pre-coastal depression near Barcelona. The archaeological complex housed extensive funerary and residential structures dating between 4210 and 2500 BC, making it a crucial window into prehistoric Mediterranean life.
Structure 3BM/4.2, where the ivory artifact was discovered, functioned as a semi-subterranean dwelling with stepped walls and central hearth. Archaeological evidence reveals an agropastoral economy focused on cattle, goats, and cereal cultivation, supplemented by wild resources. The presence of both the hippopotamus ivory tool and ceramic spindle whorls suggests textile production played an important role in daily life and possibly ritual activities.
The Véraza cultural group, to which this site belongs, occupied regions spanning southern France and northeastern Iberia from approximately 3600 to 2100 BC. These societies demonstrated remarkable connectivity through trade networks that brought Baltic amber, various flint types, and now confirmed hippopotamus ivory to Catalonian settlements. The discovery suggests these communities participated in Mediterranean-wide exchange systems previously unknown to archaeologists.
Implications for Understanding Ancient Mediterranean Connections
This discovery fundamentally alters understanding of Copper Age trade relationships in the western Mediterranean. Previous research established African and Asian elephant ivory reached southern Iberia through North African routes, but hippopotamus ivory remained extremely rare in archaeological contexts. The Bòbila Madurell specimen predates other confirmed hippopotamus ivory finds by several centuries, suggesting earlier and more extensive trade connections than previously recognized.
The artifact's potential function as a textile tool, supported by traceological analysis and the presence of organic binding agents in the red pigment, indicates sophisticated craft production. Red coloring held profound symbolic significance in Neolithic and Chalcolithic Iberian cultures, often associated with ritual and ceremonial activities. The combination of exotic material and symbolic coloring suggests this object held special importance within the community.
Researchers propose the hippopotamus ivory arrived through northern Mediterranean maritime networks rather than southern overland routes. This hypothesis aligns with evidence of Sardinian obsidian distribution and the later colonization of the Balearic Islands, suggesting sustained maritime connections across the western Mediterranean during the fourth and third millennia BC.
Future Research and Archaeological Significance
The hippopotamus ivory discovery opens new avenues for investigating prehistoric Mediterranean trade networks and cultural exchange. Advanced analytical techniques applied to this artifact demonstrate the value of reexamining museum collections with modern scientific methods. Many archaeological specimens await similar analysis, potentially revealing additional evidence of ancient connectivity.
Future research will focus on identifying the specific geographic origin of the hippopotamus ivory through isotopic analysis, though such testing requires destructive sampling. Comparative studies with other Copper Age sites across the Mediterranean may reveal additional examples of long-distance trade in exotic materials. The discovery also highlights the importance of preserving and studying archaeological collections, as artifacts may hold secrets yet to be unlocked by advancing scientific techniques.
This remarkable find underscores the sophistication of Copper Age societies in northeastern Iberia and their participation in complex trade networks spanning the ancient Mediterranean world. The oldest hippopotamus ivory artifact in the Iberian Peninsula serves as tangible evidence of prehistoric globalization, demonstrating how ancient communities connected across vast distances through shared materials, technologies, and cultural practices.
Top image: The oldest hippopotamus ivory object found in the Iberian Peninsula, discovered at Bòbila Madurell archaeological site near Barcelona, dating to the Copper Age (c. 2700-2500 BC). Source: University of Barcelona
By Gary Manners
References
Morillo León, J.M., Pitarch Martí, A., Albizuri, S., López-Cachero, F.J., Martín Cólliga, A., Mozota, M., Moyà-Solà, S., Nadal, J. (2025). First evidence of hippopotamus ivory exchange networks in north-eastern Iberian Peninsula: The object of Bòbila Madurell (Barcelona, Spain). Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352409X25004080?via%3Dihub
University of Barcelona. (2025). The oldest hippopotamus ivory object from the Iberian Peninsula has been identified. Available at: https://web.ub.edu/es/web/actualitat/w/objecte-ivori-hipopotam
