Archaeological Museum of Lorca facts for kids

The Archaeological Museum of Lorca is a cool place in Lorca, Spain. It's located in an old building called the "House of Salazar," built way back in the early 1600s. This museum is like a treasure chest! It holds many ancient objects found during digs in Lorca and other parts of Spain.

Archaeological Museum of Lorca

Outside the museum, you can see special limestone statues. These statues show Mary Natareloo Salazar with two female figures beside her. Inside, the museum is set up in different sections. Each section shows items from a different time in history.

Exploring Ancient Times

When you first enter the museum, you'll find amazing items from the very distant past. These include tools from the Paleolithic and Chalcolithic periods.

Stone Age Tools

• Paleolithic Period (about 95,000 to 32,000 BC): Here, you'll see tools made of flint. These include scrapers, knives, and points. Ancient hunters and gatherers used these tools. They lived in places like Black Hill of Jofré and Correia in Lorca.
• Late Neolithic Period (about 3500 BC): This section shows arrowheads, axes, and polished stone pieces. You can also see handmade pottery and beads. These were used by people living in the Lorca region.
• Copper Age (about 3000 BC): Look for burial objects found in caves on the hills of Lorca. These items tell us about how people lived and died long ago.

Giant Stones and Early Art

• Megaliths: See large stone structures from the Black Hill in Lorca. These huge stones were often used for important buildings or tombs.
• Early Idols and Art: From around 3000 BC, there are small figures made of clay, bone, and stone. These were found in the Glorieta de San Vicente in Lorca. One special item is a triangular stone plate. It has black paintings of animals and other designs.

Roman Empire in Lorca

• Roman Emperors: You can see two columns dedicated to famous Roman Emperors. One is for Emperor Augustus (8-7 BC) and the other for Emperor Diocletian.
• Roman Mosaics: The museum displays beautiful mosaics from the Roman period. These include faces of Venus and nine other female figures. Mosaics are pictures made from small colored pieces of stone or glass.

Discoveries from Lorca's Regions

The museum also has many exciting finds from different areas around Lorca. These show how people lived through various historical periods.

Early Settlements and Burials

• Chalcolithic Burials: Discover burial sites with many objects. These are over 4,000 years old!
• Neolithic Silo: See a round storage pit from the late Neolithic period. It contains ceramic pots, bone tools, and polished stone axes. There are also many bone awls and flint stones.

The Argar Culture

• Argar Culture (2200-1500 BC): This section shows items from the second millennium BC. These were found in villages on high flat lands. You'll see objects made of copper and bronze. There are also handmade pottery, tools like adzes and sickles, and items for grinding grain.
• Village Life: A model of an Argar village helps you imagine how people lived. You can also see stone burial boxes and ceramic jars used as urns for the dead.

Iberian People and Their Crafts

• Iberian Culture: Learn about the Iberian people. They were skilled craftspeople. You'll see pottery made on lathes, metal objects, and weaving tools.
• Warrior Gear: There are also special items for rituals and war. These include parts of an Iberian falcata (a type of sword), shields, spears, and belt buckles.
• Tombs and Treasures: Furniture from Iberian tombs found in Lorca's burial grounds is on display. Look for bronze brooches, rings, and bracelets. There are also ceramic cups and a Greek kylix cup from the 5th century BC. Many ceramics have writing in the ancient Liberian language, which is still a mystery!

Roman Life and Beyond

• Pax Romana (First two centuries AD): This period was peaceful under Roman rule. See beautiful mosaics from rich people's villas. There are also ceramics, metal parts, loom weights, and Roman lamps.
• Roman Gods: A bronze image of the Roman god Mercury is also on display.
• Hispano Culture: This section shows pottery, religious items, and burial objects from the Hispano-Roman period. You can also see models of Islamic buildings, like an archway from a mosque. There are also objects from Islamic burial rituals.

Medieval Times and Later

• Late Middle Ages: Explore items from the 13th century. These include parts of the city's defenses and its castle. You'll also find pieces from the Jewish quarter inside the castle, which was active until 1492.
• Jewish Heritage: See a Hanukkah lamp and glass lamps from the synagogue.
• Coins and Medals: A large collection of coins and medals covers many periods. These include Phoenician, Greek, Roman, Byzantine, and Moorish Spain.
• Spanish Pottery: The museum has Spanish pottery from the 16th and 17th centuries. This includes glazed ceramics in white, gray, and molasses colors. Look for the "jar girlfriend," a special pitcher from the 17th century decorated with glass.

See also

In Spanish: Museo Arqueológico Municipal de Lorca para niños