Ancient Ceremony Unveils Secrets of 5,000-Year-Old Priestesses in Spain

Archaeologists have uncovered the burial site of 20 women, adorned with over 270,000 seashell beads, at the Tholos of Montelirio near Seville, Spain. This intricate burial, believed to date back approximately 4,800 years, has been detailed in a study published in Science Advances. Researchers estimate that the beads, likely part of ceremonial garments, were crafted from roughly 800 kilograms of various mollusks (Wheatley, 2025).

Notably, the remains contain exceptionally high levels of mercury, with some women exhibiting concentrations exceeding 500 micrograms per gram of bone, raising questions about the circumstances surrounding their deaths and the role of mercury in ancient rituals, according to Raquel Montero, an archaeologist at the University of Seville.

The tomb is uniquely comprised solely of women, believed to hold special significance, with one female figure notably positioned in a prayer-like stance. The discovery suggests that the site served as a ceremonial gathering place, with potential implications of ritual practices involving the wearing of beaded robes (Díaz-Guardamino, 2025).

These findings may redefine our understanding of gender roles and ceremonial practices in ancient Iberian cultures.