A bronze ox head from the post-Talayotic culture has been found in the Tramuntana mountain range.

PalmA hiker has made a seemingly exceptional archaeological find in the Tramuntana mountain range: a small bronze ox head that likely formed part of a smaller sculpture and could date to the final phase of the post-Talayotic culture. The piece, small but remarkably well-preserved, displays the characteristic features of an ox's snout and eyes—schematic, yet recognizable. According to archaeologists from the Almallutx group, who received and handed over the find this Monday to the Consell de Mallorca (Island Council of Mallorca), these types of representations typically have a ritual or symbolic character, related to strength and fertility. The small size of the piece suggests it may have been a decorative or cultic element within a larger ensemble, like the ox sculptures already known in the Balearic archaeological record. The post-Talayotic culture in Mallorca, which developed towards the end of the Bronze Age, is characterized by fortified settlements, metallurgical production, and elaborate ritual practices. Sculptures of oxen, such as this bronze head, reflect the symbolic importance of these animals, possibly linked to rituals of fertility, strength, and protection for the communities. Finds like this allow researchers to better understand the beliefs and daily life of the societies that inhabited the island more than 3,000 years ago, as well as their ability to create artistic and symbolic objects in metal. The researchers are especially grateful to Josep M. Buils, who reported the find. The piece is expected to be studied soon and displayed in a museum, allowing the public to closely examine this unique fragment of post-Talayotic Mallorca and compare it with other surviving representations of bulls.