A set of Iberian pottery belonging to a funerary trousseau found in Alcaudete (Jaén, Spain).

Iberian pottery belonging to a funerary trousseau is a fundamental component of the rituals of ancient Iberian cultures and plays a crucial role in the social customs and burial practices of these peoples. Funerary trousseaus are sets of objects that were placed next to the deceased in their tomb, to accompany them on their journey to the afterlife. In the case of pottery, it had a symbolic and practical meaning, as placed next to the burial site represented a connection with everyday life, to carry out rituals in the afterlife, or to receive sustenance on their postmortem journey.
Among the typology of these trousseaus, we find a wide variety of ceramic forms: plates and bowls, which in some cases were associated with the ritual of feeding the deceased, or vessels and bowls, as well as amphorae, which were used to contain food or liquids. These pieces were often decorated with symbolic motifs, such as representations of animals and/or people that were associated with protection or renewal, and vessels decorated with geometric or abstract motifs.