Verraco de Villanueva del Campillo, Prehistoric granite animal sculpture in Villanueva del Campillo, Spain.
The Verraco of Villanueva del Campillo is a granite animal sculpture measuring about 8 feet (2.43 meters) in height and over 8 feet (2.5 meters) in length. The work was carved from a single granite block and stands as one of the largest stone animal figures from the Iberian Peninsula.
This sculpture was created in the 4th or 3rd century BCE during the Vettones period. The civilization produced over 400 such animal monuments scattered across Spain and Portugal.
This stone figure stood in open fields to mark territory and protect livestock herds of the Vettones people. The placement of such monuments shows how central cattle were to this ancient way of life.
The monument stands outdoors at its original location and is freely visible to visitors. The stone has weathered over centuries, so viewing it from different angles helps you appreciate its details and form.
The original granite block weighed about 24 tons, but the current sculpture weighs roughly 15 tons after restoration work. This difference reveals how much stone was removed to create this animal form.
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