Four years ago it made the front page of all the newspapers in Spain, had an impact on television and on the Internet and in a very short time became an icon for its exceptional value, its good state of conservation and the solidity of its composition. The Iberian lioness of La Rambla was considered an exceptional find in October 2020, but four years later it remains deposited in the Archaeological Museum of Cordoba, as happened from the first moment. Why can’t we see it yet?
The first thing that had to happen was for the technicians to investigate the piece, but, for several months, what has prevented them from continuing the work is that the case is being pursued in court: the owner of the olive grove where it appeared is not happy with the award he received for reporting the accidental discovery of the Iberian lioness. This is how ABC was able to confirm it both with the owner and the Junta of Andalusiaresponsible for the protection of historical heritage.
Gonzalo Crespo Crespo is the person who found the archaeological piece in October 2020. He is originally from San Sebastián de los Ballesteros, although the farm is in the municipality of La Ramblabordering that of San Sebastián and much larger. As required, he reported the discovery of the Iberian sculpture to the Civil Guard, who immediately took charge of the situation. The Iberian lioness was deposited in the Archaeological Museum and has passed, as required by law, into the public domain.
Compensation
From there, it was necessary to compensate the person who had reported the discovery. This procedure is included in Article 50, point 5, of Law 14/2007 of November 26 on the historical heritage of Andalusia and follows the National Law on Historical Heritage, approved in 1985. “The person who discovers and the owner of the place where the object or material remains were found has the right, in reward concept in cash, at half the value attributed to it in the judicial expertise, which will be carried out in accordance with the provisions of article 80 of the law of Forced expropriationdividing it between them in equal parts.
ABC spoke yesterday with Gonzalo Crespo, who first showed his willingness not to make public statements, but also confirmed the presentation of the appeal, for a very specific reason: “Given the behavior On the other hand, I have no other alternative. Was the other party the Administration, the Junta de Andalucía? Yes, and he confirmed it.
When asked if the problem was economic, he confirmed it: “Indeed”, and insisted that, in his opinion, “there are things that have not been done well.” So he took the matter to court, and until the judge decides if he is right or if the Administration is right, the Iberian lioness remains in detention and without exposing herself to the public. Archaeological Museum from Cordoba.
The situation was confirmed by the Culture Delegate of the Junta de Andalucía in Córdoba, Eduardo Lucenawho explained that the owner of the land where the accidental discovery appeared, filed an appeal before the Junta de Andalucía for this reason: “The amount of the price that the law collects for the communication of the find by chance of goods of archaeological value.
National law also determines how to proceed, in accordance with the law on forced expropriation, which has several chapters dedicated to archaeological remains. “The fair price of the goods will be determined by expertise by a Commission composed of three academics, appointed, one by the Council of the Institute of Spain, another by the Ministry of National Education and the third by the owner of the property concerned. The nomination may go to an academic from the District Academies, presiding over the first of those indicated and deciding ties with a casting vote.
If, as the law says, everything depends on the expertise carried out, the owner does not agree with the value which was given to the coin, and of which he should receive half. At the time he was informed by the Department of Culture of the Junta de Andalucía, he considered that the amount was insufficient and that is why he decided to appeal.
The owner interpreted that he had respected the rules for the protection of historical heritage. Thus, Andalusian law insists on the fact that “in no case can we proceed without authorisation and prior control by the Ministry responsible for historical heritage until the removal of the remains or goods found.
On the contrary, “they must be kept at the place of discovery, thus making it easier to make them available to the Administration”. According to him, everything took place in accordance with regulations.
The law provides that you are entitled to half of the value at which the coin is estimated for having informed the authorities.
Only once there is a judicial resolution We could start thinking about exhibiting the Iberian lioness, so that her journey is similar to that of Pedro Abad’s ephebes: until the end of the legal process, her restoration has not begun, which now culminates with its permanent exhibition.
The play speaks 2,500 years and its particularity lies both in its good state of conservation and in its iconography, because it represents a large feline, identified with a lioness due to the absence of a mane, attacking a ram.
This is not the first animal of this type discovered in the province of Córdoba, since some are exhibited in the Archaeological Museum itself. No information has been found as to whether it was part of a tomb, which is a possibility, or whether it was on top of a tomb. columnbut it is part of a long lineage that has left many traces throughout the Guadalquivir Valley and the Cordoba countryside for hundreds of years.
