Archaeologists excavating a 4,900-year-old fortress in Almendralejo, southwestern Spain, have uncovered a perplexing burial that may belong to a Roman soldier. The grave, a solitary and shallow pit near one of the fortress’s defensive ditches, contained the remains of a man estimated to be between 25 and 35 years old. What makes this find particularly intriguing is that the body was positioned face down, with a Roman dagger, known as a pugio, placed on his back.
The dagger was remarkably well-preserved, found still in its sheath. Dating to the late first century BC, it provides a valuable chronological marker for the burial. This weapon was based on earlier daggers used in pre-Roman Hispania, which the Roman legionaries fires encountered during battles fought in Hispania throughout the second century BC. First prized as war trophies, the daggers were copied and given a unique Roman stylistic twist, becoming the pugios that were standard equipment for Roman soldiers in Empire days.
“The deliberate placement of the pugio in the burial is a way of signaling the social position of the buried and his belonging to the army,” said excavation director César M. Pérez, from the archaeological excavation company Tera S.L., in an interview with the Spanish newspaper El Pais. “This atypical burial suggests the soldier may have received a dishonorable interment—an unusual occurrence that raises questions about the circumstances surrounding his death.”
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A Puzzling Life, Death, and Burial
While the skeleton was largely intact, one significant anomaly was the absence of the feet, which appeared to have been severed. Archaeologists are unsure whether this was was done after death or as part of a ritualistic act. The combination of the face-down position, the missing feet, and the dagger placement has left researchers calling this burial “a real mystery.”
Aerial view of the hilltop site in Almendralejo, Spain where the Copper Age fortress and anomalous Roman burial were found. (Tera S.L.)
Initially, there was debate over whether the individual was truly a soldier or a civilian who had come into possession of the dagger. If he was indeed a Roman soldier, researchers believe he would have been part of Legio VII Gemina, the only Roman legion stationed in Hispania in Roman Empire times.
Formed in 74 CE, Legio VII Gemina was headquartered in Legio (modern-day León), within the territory of the Asturians. Unlike other legions engaged in continuous military campaigns, the Legio VII Gemina was primarily assigned to escort duties, road security, and regional protection. This context adds to the mystery—why was this soldier buried in such an unusual manner, and what circumstances led to his death?
The loss of his feet suggests he might have faced punishment for cowardice, possibly attempting to flee from battle or from a dangerous encounter (without feet he would never have been able to run away again).
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To gain further insights, researchers are working on extracting DNA from one of the soldier’s teeth. The results may help determine his origins, and if he could be linked to a specific culture, how he was buried might be identifiable as a ritual linked to that culture.
A Copper Age Fortress and Its Ultimate Demise
The burial site is part of a larger and quite remarkable discovery of the 4,900-year-old ruins of a large defensive installation that predates the arrival of the Romans by millennia. This ancient Copper Age fortress, designated Cortijo Lobato, dates back to almost 3,000 BC, which makes it one of the earliest known hilltop strongholds in the region.
Skeletal remains of the Roman soldier, with the 'pugio' found in his back laid beside him. (Tera S.L.)
Perched on a hill 1,030 feet (314 meters) above sea level, the pentagon-shaped fortress was strategically designed with three concentric stone walls, 25 bastions, and three defensive ditches, each measuring up to 13 feet (four meters) wide and six feet (two meters) deep (the Roman soldier was found buried adjacent to the second of the three ditches).
“The complex system of walls and ditches, built from both stone and earth, demonstrates careful planning that required the coordination of a large group of people,” Pérez stated.
Within the fortress, archaeologists uncovered a range of artifacts, including arrowheads, stone idols, axes, grinding tools, plates, bowls, and loom components. These findings offer insights into the daily lives of the Copper Age inhabitants. Evidence of a water reservoir and cabins suggests the fortress was well-prepared for prolonged sieges, making it clear that these people had real enemies—so real, in fact, that the fortress was eventually attacked and destroyed.
Archaeologists found widespread evidence of fire, particularly in key structural areas. One of the most compelling indications that the fire was intentional was the discovery of charred wooden doors embedded in mudbrick walls, far from any natural fire hazards. The presence of numerous arrowheads at the site further supports the theory of a violent siege that led to the settlement’s downfall.
Cortijo Lobato was abandoned around 2450 BC, according to carbon-14 dating of animal remains found at the site. The fort and surrounding area apparently remained abandoned for the next 2,700 years, before the Roman Empire occupied it in the second or third centuries.
Copper Age arrowheads found in the ecavations at Cortijo Lobato fortress. (Tera S.L.)
Incredible Ruins and Artifacts Discovered and Preserved
The fortress was initially discovered during preliminary surveys completed in anticipation of the construction of a photovoltaic solar park planned by Spanish energy company Acciona Energía. Once identified, strict archaeological protocols were implemented to ensure the site’s protection and thorough investigation. Excavations, led by the team at Tera S.L., began in 2021 and have been continuing ever since.
The site, named after the nearby Cortijo Lobato (a Spanish farmhouse), was pinpointed when researchers found Chalcolithic-era artifacts scattered among the trees of an olive grove. The fortress’s commanding location suggests it held significant strategic importance, though the full extent of its role remains uncertain.
As part of conservation efforts, the recovered pugio has been carefully preserved in a laboratory. Under the supervision of restoration expert Maicu Ortega from Madrid Complutense University, the dagger has been analyzed, stabilized, and protected to prevent future deterioration.
Top image: The first century BC dagger, rusted but still intact, that was removed from the back and burial of the second or third century Roman soldier.
Source: Tera S.L.
By Nathan Falde
