THE LOST WORLD OF MARMAROS
An archaeological overview by Dr Rosa Ramm
Evidence exists that at least some of the 350 abandoned marble quarries of the Estremoz anticline and Borba are not the result of industrial activities over the past 100 years, but are the remains of a lost prehistoric civilization, named Marmaros.
The Marmaros lived around 1500 - 500 BC in the region between Estremoz and Alandroal. For unknown reasons they suddenly left. When the Romans arrived around 100AD they found only the Lusitanian population living in fortified hill towns. The Marmaros did not leave obvious traces in historical documents or legends nor in contemporary consciousness. It was not until the 1920s, with the pioneering work of Pedro Vermisso, that the Marmaros to some extent re-entered Portuguese history.
With regards the origins of the Marmaros, some have hypothesised a link between the Marmaros and the Tartessian culture in South Portugal. This hypothesis allies the architectural constructions of the Marmaros with perhaps the greatest of all lost worlds: Atlantis.
A new-project, supported by the United Nations for a period of at least ten years, will certainly put new light on the Marmaros and their crucial role in the development of virtually all Mediterranean civilisations.
Domestic Life
The artefacts indicate that the Marmaros were farmers and traders. They lived in temporary accommodation and visited their subterranean buildings mainly for ritual occasions. This is why Vermissio named them “Cathedrals”. The rituals may have been rather informal as mainly tools related to food preparation and leisure activities have been found.
Rock carvings have been uncovered that give evidence of ritual activities demarking the life cycle including birth, initiation, fertility and funerary rites.
Economy
By 1000 BC the Marmaros had connected to trading routes as far as North Africa and parts of Asia, which brought them unparalleled economic growth. Excavated materials include not only basic iron tools, animal pendants and children’s toys, but also ivory, diamonds, gemstones and certain precious metals.
This extensive travelling may have been an influence on the Marmaros’ endeavours. Some cite the rock-cut structures of Petra (Jordan) as a key influence. Furthermore, it has been speculated that their contact with North Africa may have left its own influence in the rock-cut churches of Lalibela (Ethiopia).
Kinship
There is still little material evidence to ascertain Marmaros kinship rules. Speculations have been put forward on a matrilineal system, and on religion to be the primary ordering principle, whereby shamans acted as counsellors to a largely egalitarian populace.
Religion
Artefacts and architectural clues suggest Marmaros religion to have combined elements of polytheism, shamanism and animism within a framework of astronomy and calendrics. Possibly, the God of the Marmaros was not a force existing above and looking down, but dwelt deep inside the earth.
The Marmaros’ use of shadows was also unique. As well as being used in calendric and time-keeping systems, there was also a religious dimension. While their daily life took largely place on the surface, God was assumed to live deep inside the earth, so the etch of shadow in their cathedrals represented the border between profane and spiritual life.
Acoustics
Archaeological evidence points to the striking sonic properties of the Marmaros cathedrals. A number of musicking devices have been discovered including tuned marble keys from a marimba and an ancient glockenspiel.
The Marmaros cathedrals have been carved in a specific geometry to optimize the sound conduction. The Marmaros must have been aware that the deeper their cathedrals the more pronounced was the echo and the stronger the ability to generate ´standing waves´(resonance creating frequencies).
For the Marmaros these physical properties had an obvious religious dimension. As their God lived deep in the earth, the “unreal” sounds down in their cathedrals brought them from the profane daily life into a mysterious and sacred world.
In general it can be concluded that a clear and plausible view on the Marmaros has been postulated, but that their civilisation, the scale of their building projects and their disappearance are still largely enigmas for historians, archaeologists and anthropologists.
The Marmaros lived around 1500 - 500 BC in the region between Estremoz and Alandroal. For unknown reasons they suddenly left. When the Romans arrived around 100AD they found only the Lusitanian population living in fortified hill towns. The Marmaros did not leave obvious traces in historical documents or legends nor in contemporary consciousness. It was not until the 1920s, with the pioneering work of Pedro Vermisso, that the Marmaros to some extent re-entered Portuguese history.
With regards the origins of the Marmaros, some have hypothesised a link between the Marmaros and the Tartessian culture in South Portugal. This hypothesis allies the architectural constructions of the Marmaros with perhaps the greatest of all lost worlds: Atlantis.
A new-project, supported by the United Nations for a period of at least ten years, will certainly put new light on the Marmaros and their crucial role in the development of virtually all Mediterranean civilisations.
Domestic Life
The artefacts indicate that the Marmaros were farmers and traders. They lived in temporary accommodation and visited their subterranean buildings mainly for ritual occasions. This is why Vermissio named them “Cathedrals”. The rituals may have been rather informal as mainly tools related to food preparation and leisure activities have been found.
Rock carvings have been uncovered that give evidence of ritual activities demarking the life cycle including birth, initiation, fertility and funerary rites.
Economy
By 1000 BC the Marmaros had connected to trading routes as far as North Africa and parts of Asia, which brought them unparalleled economic growth. Excavated materials include not only basic iron tools, animal pendants and children’s toys, but also ivory, diamonds, gemstones and certain precious metals.
This extensive travelling may have been an influence on the Marmaros’ endeavours. Some cite the rock-cut structures of Petra (Jordan) as a key influence. Furthermore, it has been speculated that their contact with North Africa may have left its own influence in the rock-cut churches of Lalibela (Ethiopia).
Kinship
There is still little material evidence to ascertain Marmaros kinship rules. Speculations have been put forward on a matrilineal system, and on religion to be the primary ordering principle, whereby shamans acted as counsellors to a largely egalitarian populace.
Religion
Artefacts and architectural clues suggest Marmaros religion to have combined elements of polytheism, shamanism and animism within a framework of astronomy and calendrics. Possibly, the God of the Marmaros was not a force existing above and looking down, but dwelt deep inside the earth.
The Marmaros’ use of shadows was also unique. As well as being used in calendric and time-keeping systems, there was also a religious dimension. While their daily life took largely place on the surface, God was assumed to live deep inside the earth, so the etch of shadow in their cathedrals represented the border between profane and spiritual life.
Acoustics
Archaeological evidence points to the striking sonic properties of the Marmaros cathedrals. A number of musicking devices have been discovered including tuned marble keys from a marimba and an ancient glockenspiel.
The Marmaros cathedrals have been carved in a specific geometry to optimize the sound conduction. The Marmaros must have been aware that the deeper their cathedrals the more pronounced was the echo and the stronger the ability to generate ´standing waves´(resonance creating frequencies).
For the Marmaros these physical properties had an obvious religious dimension. As their God lived deep in the earth, the “unreal” sounds down in their cathedrals brought them from the profane daily life into a mysterious and sacred world.
In general it can be concluded that a clear and plausible view on the Marmaros has been postulated, but that their civilisation, the scale of their building projects and their disappearance are still largely enigmas for historians, archaeologists and anthropologists.