The Temporality of Stone: Late Prehistoric Sculpture in Iberia

Late prehistoric standing stones, decorated stelae and statue-menhirs in Iberia could be linked to processes of consolidation, such as boundary formation or the creation of collective identities. Nonetheless, the materiality and temporality of stone reveal that the link between stone and consolidation processes is not straightforward. Stone can be vibrant and fluid and not necessarily stable; it is the resilience of its relationships (rather than matter) which forge processes akin to the concept of petrification. That is, stone may not petrify, and even when it does it needs persistent work to maintain it that way. Therefore, it is here proposed that the examination of processes of petrification needs to pay attention to materials, their relationships, and histories. A series of case studies are discussed to exemplify how Iberian late prehistoric sculptures are composed of a variety of overlapping relations. Some relations (e.g. similarity; association with a place) endured resulting in the creation of sculptural traditions (or standards) and some significant persistent places. But even those relations that were long-lasting have complex historicities which emphasise instability and change through time