Temple B
The building is clearly Punic in character.
The façade faces southeast, and the door is positioned so that the first ray of sunlight at dawn on the winter solstice falls directly on the small altar that was placed on the sandstone slab.
Photograph taken on 21 December 2005
In ancient times, many religious festivals coincided with astronomical milestones. In particular, during the winter solstice, the Egyptians celebrated rites in honour of Horus, in Greece they celebrated Dionysian festivals and the Romans celebrated festivals in honour of Saturn. In other cultures far from the Mediterranean, worship also takes place; Hindus commemorate the birth of Mithra and in Japan, festivals are held in honour of Amaterasu, a solar goddess.
We cannot say for sure which deity Temple B was dedicated to, but a female-headed censer was found inside it, which is generally assimilated to Tanit, the Punic goddess of fertility and natural cycles, so some researchers suggest that the temple may have been dedicated to a deity of fertility and the world beyond the grave.
Altar
http://marqalicante-classic-admin.qwair.com/Paginas/es/Pieza-del-mes-P382-M1.html
Terracotta female head
On the other hand, a short distance from the rear wall, on the outside of the building, a buried deposit was found, in which the presence of a falcata, a shield handle and some nails stand out. In his diary, Enrique Llobregat, the excavator, reports the presence of bone splinters that have not been preserved today, so we cannot be sure that they were human remains.
Photograph of the falcata at the time of excavation.
The restored falcata
Shield handle
This deposit is clearly reminiscent of the Iberian tombs that can be found in necropolises, where it is very common for weapons to be found among the grave goods as a symbol of the social status of the deceased. However, in the Iberian world it was not customary to carry out burials inside settlements. Some researchers relate this tomb or cenotaph to the dedication of temple B and consider that it must be a gentilic temple dedicated to a heroic ancestor.
