Barcelona – Basel – Mistelbach: In ‘The Mysterious World of the Iberians’ at the MAMUZ Museum Mistelbach, from 14 March to 29 November 2026, in cooperation with the Museu d'Arqueologia de Catalunya in Barcelona and with the support of the Antikenmuseum Basel and Sammlung Ludwig, over 200 original objects and spectacular finds will offer a fascinating glimpse into the lives of the ancient peoples of Spain for the first time. It is the first major archaeological exhibition in Austria dedicated to this mysterious culture. Specially designed stations for children to touch, experience and discover with all their senses, as well as a puzzle book, make a visit to the museum an experience for the whole family.

The exhibition ‘The Mysterious World of the Iberians’ at the MAMUZ Museum Mistelbach provides a fascinating insight into the diverse culture of the Iberians. Around 200 original objects from the collection of the Museu d'Arqueologia de Catalunya in Barcelona and from important archaeological sites in present-day Spain and Portugal provide access to a society that existed more than 2,500 years ago.

Highlights of the exhibition include the silver treasure of Tivissa – including cups, bowls and jewellery, vessels with Iberian inscriptions and ornaments, bronze votive statuettes of worshippers and warriors, skulls with nails hammered into them, and detailed replicas of the fascinating ‘Dama de Elche’ and other female busts.

Interactive stations invite visitors to get involved: putting together ceramic fragments, minting coins and identifying mythical creatures. Creative activities such as drawing votive figures, feeling animals, playing a board game, stamping Iberian motifs and a dressing-up station round off the experience and make a visit to the museum an exciting adventure for the whole family.

The Iberians, whose culture flourished between the 6th and 1st centuries BC, lived on the Iberian Peninsula – today's Spain and Portugal. They did not form a unified nation, but rather a multitude of different communities with their own languages, crafts and arts, as well as an extensive trade network, including with the Greeks and Phoenicians. The Iberians eventually came to the attention of Rome in the course of Roman expansion and were conquered in the Second Punic War (218-201 BC).

Their civilisation is considered one of the most remarkable of the Iron Age. Influenced by Greek city-states that founded colonies along the coast, Celtic tribes that settled in the centre, and Phoenician traders who brought exotic goods to the country, the descendants of the Spanish indigenous peoples developed into different communities. Particularly noteworthy are their highly networked elites, urban lifestyle and advanced craftsmanship. They left behind a variety of traces that are still the subject of discussion and full of mysteries today.

Mysterious characters

An impressive number of over 2,500 inscriptions on ceramic tableware, amphorae, dolia, caves, stone steles and other objects bear witness to this 500-year-old culture. Although the characters can be transcribed, a translation is still not possible today. Recently, the number system was identified, marking a significant advance in the study of the Iberian language.

Art and women

Iberian art was influenced by many factors. Iberian sculptures are particularly noteworthy, yet they pose many mysteries. Foremost among these is the world-famous bust of a woman, the ‘Dama de Elche’, which was found in the temple of Ilici and can be seen as a replica in the exhibition. Neither its function nor whether it was the image of a mortal or worshipped in a religious context is known. At the same time, it is the most famous work of art of Iberian culture, which is never allowed to leave Spain and still captivates people today in Madrid's Museo Arqueológico Nacional de España. Other female busts, such as the ‘Dama de Baza’ and the ‘Dama del Cerro de los Santos’, can also be seen as replicas.

Rich mineral resources and craftsmanship

Copper, iron, gold and silver – all of these were found in the Iberian settlement area and were mined and processed. With unrivalled craftsmanship, they created filigree jewellery and magnificent vessels, which must also have been highly interesting for trade. At the same time, the rich mineral resources aroused the covetousness of the powerful neighbours Rome and Carthage, who fought each other for possession of Spain, which ultimately led to the loss of the Iberians' independence.

The Iberian city of Ullastret and its virtual reconstruction

In the far north-east of the Iberian Peninsula lay the city of Ullastret, which was inhabited from the 6th to the 2nd century BC. In 2015, the city underwent an elaborate virtual reconstruction to enable visitors to take a dreamlike journey through the streets and houses of the Iberian city. Told as a story, a member of an aristocratic family recalls dramatic moments of his life in the city. An excerpt from the virtual reconstruction can be seen in the exhibition ‘The Mysterious World of the Iberians’.

What food was available to the Iberians? How was purple dye obtained? Which animals can be felt? There are no limits to your imagination when designing your own mythical creatures, and the whole family can join in at the dressing-up station. A puzzle book for children (available free of charge at the museum ticket office) contains exciting questions that can be answered in the exhibition. 

A catalogue accompanying the exhibition (128 pages) is available in the museum shop for €24.90.

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