Abstract
This article describes the research work undertaken at the Archaeology Institute – Mérida-
CSIC on a set of bone and ivory plates found in the Tartessus site of the “Turuñuelo
Homes” (Guareña, Badajoz), in a 5th century BC context. The study specifically focuses
on the intervention performed on the pieces in terms of restoration and conservation,
going over the different work stages and methodology used, and its integration as part of
the set of actions belonging to the different scientific disciplines guiding multi-disciplinary,
modern Archaeology teams. The undertaking of the restoration works has been essential
to properly understand the plates, both in iconographic and technical terms, which has
allowed us to get some interesting historical results concerning the development of
Phoenician trade in the West, the existence of specialised craftsman ship in the production
of these plates in the peninsula’s enclaves, and certain technological aspects applied to
this type of decorative plate that were previously not known in this kind of production in
the Iberian Peninsula.