Small sites, lost objects, artefacts without context. 3. The “cylindrical idol” of Ervidel (Herdade da Cariola)

Abstract

With its respectable 738.75 g, the engraved cylindrical “idol” from Cariola (Ervidel, Aljustrel) is not the heaviest known example, but it is certain that, of the not engraved ones, it is a good example. Bigger, bigger, we have those from the Lisbon Peninsula, Alapraia 3 included. But not from the deep Alentejo. Till now. The questions are of several orders: why are the representations of hair like that, why Sun’s eyes, why tattoos or face paintings. And, by the way, what are the sex (or gender…) of these “figures”, if any it was. It seeks fair to sake off doubts, the answers are more difficult to find. As stated in the respective chapter of the book «Sites, «Horizons» and Artifacts», only the snake fat sellers are responsible for this. This not an Abstract, who said it was? Jorj X. McCie never said it was. Not even those who dream to reign in a distant Persia. Here, we are in the 3rd millennium (b.c.e.), maybe in the Middle Earth...