Iberian Iron Age sculptures from Cerro de los Santos in the Vienna International Exhibition (1873)

La presencia en la Exposición Universal de Viena de moldes de las esculturas del Cerro de los Santos es un hecho mal conocido. Tras la inauguración oficial del Museo Arqueológico Nacional de Madrid por Amadeo de Saboya en 1871, la institución consideró una prioridad comprar un número significativo de piezas de este lugar, considerado como evidencia de una sorprendente, antigua y desconocida cultura española. Desgraciadamente, entre ellas había varias falsificaciones que no fueron detectadas hasta algunos años después. Se enviaron a Viena 29 moldes, donde fueron revisadas por diversos arqueólogos europeos. Por su actitud oferente, sosteniendo un vaso entre las manos, fueron relacionadas con las esculturas funerarias del sur de Rusia conocidas como «Kamennye Baby».The several casts of stone sculptures found in the Iberian sanctuary of Cerro de los Santos, shown in The Vienna International Exhibition, is scarcely known. After the official opening of the National Archaeological Museum of Madrid by Amadeo of Saboya in 1871, the institution considered a priority to acquire a significant number of sculptures from this site, as an astonishing evidence of an old, important and unknown Spanish culture. Unfortunately, among them were several fakes, although they remained unnoticed for a few years. 29 casts were shipped to Vienna, where they were studied by different European archaeologists. These sculptures, with an offering vase held in the hands, were associated with the southern Russian funerary sculptures known as «Kamennye Baby»