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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Modes of Religiosity in Iberian Iron Age Caves: Religious Behaviour and Sensorial Experience

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The Iberian Iron Age caves are defined as a specific model of sacred space. First, from a territorial perspective, they are identified as liminal spaces where the collective participation, integration and the sense of belonging is reinforced. And secondly, as multisensory contexts, where different ritual practices, highly symbolised, are performed. These spheres, cut off from the well-known and daily scenarios boost the sensory hypersensitivity, strengthened by the connection between the senses and the natural scenario. This paper is guided by the theory of religiosity modes, developed by H. Whitehouse, with the purpose of a better understanding of the ritual practices that were carried out in Iberian caves. This theoretical framework proposes two main models of religiosity, doctrinal and imagistic, that are contrasted and / or complement each other, as a way of measuring religious and ritual actions. Regarding these two modes of religiosity, the caves would be an example, mainly, of the imagistic mode, in which the emotions play a major role. In this sense, we focus on how they influence the religious structure and the organization of the liturgy and practices. Following a methodological approach that allows the analysis of sensory and emotional empathy, we empirically analyze the archaeological record with examples from Iberian ritual caves.