The Braganza Fibula: Medicine, Portugal and Galicia

Abstract

Inspired by Alejandro Rodríguez Cardaso’s legacy in promoting Galician-Portuguese heritage, this study presents the Braganza Fibula—a late Iron Age masterpiece largely unknown outside specialist circles. The objective is to explore novel medical interpretations of its symbolic and functional role in ancient healing practices, situating it within a network of similar artifacts that embody the cultural and medical identity of Galicia and northern Portugal, bridging art, medicine, and Atlantic Northwest heritage. Methods involved contextual and comparative interpretive analysis with similar artifacts. Results show that the fibula as a cultural emblem highlighting intertwined artistic excellence and early medical knowledge in ancient Iberian societies.