Caves, Senses, and Ritual Flows in the Iberian Iron Age: The Territory of Edeta

Abstract This article seeks to contribute recent scholarship on ritual performances in caves, sensory archaeology and journeys, stimulate fresh questions debate about society, ritual, mobility the Iberian Iron Age. It uses an updated methodology for recording interpreting – more contextually, holistically, systematically multisensory affordances of caves their landscapes embodied human movements, experiences, perceptions. applies this approach two situated territory thought by archaeologists have been controlled Age oppidum Edeta/Tossal de Sant Miquel Valencia province: both interpreted as destination “pilgrimages” related performances, especially during fifth third centuries BC. In particular, study presents a thick multifaceted interpretative scenario flows to, through, from these underground places, divided analytically into successive experiential stages. concludes questioning current model elite-dominated process instead emphasises variability decision-making, practices experiences over space, time, culture.