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Date Published: 04/04/2022

Cartagena demo workers make shock Roman discovery while knocking down a 19th century building

Workers in the Murcian city were in the middle of demolishing a 19th century building when they came across an ancient Roman column

Demo workers in Cartagena, Spain received a shock while they were knocking down a building in the Murcian city.

What was supposed to be a routine demolition project turned into something much more surprising – and much more valuable – than anyone expected.

The workers, who were working for the Town Planning Department of the local City Council, were in the middle of demolishing the building located at number 24, Calle San Vicente when they stumbled across something incredible.

The building, which is on the corner of the Plaza del Sevillano, was actually built in 1885 and declared to be in imminent ruin last December, hence why it was scheduled for destruction. But inside it concealed an architectural treasure that was much older than the 19th century, and which forced them to down tools.

From among the rubble emerged the shaft of a Roman column, which the workers recognised immediately as a piece of history, so they called a team of expert archaeologists to take a look.

After close inspection, the Archaeological Heritage team surmised that the column probably came from the ancient Cerro del Molinete archaeological site and that it was brought to Cartagena to be reused in the construction of the building over 100 years ago.

The column is a shaft, smooth and carved in grey micritic limestone, measuring 135 centimetres in height by 37 centimetres in diameter.

Among the other hypotheses that the professionals are considering is that, because the column was standing up in a vertical position right on the corner of the building, it was already in place in a building that predated the 19th century one, and was used as part of a guard post, or a type of pillar that protected the corners of buildings from the passing and turning vehicles.

It is not uncommon to find pieces of older architectural sturtcures in newer buildings. In historic cities with a rich archaeological legacy like Cartagena, the reuse of ancient architectural elements in modern constructions has been a recurring theme for hundreds of years, at least until the 19th century.

See also: Read the full History of Cartagena

What will happen to the historic column now?

Cartagena’s Deputy Mayor, Ana Belén Castejón, explained what the City has planned for its latest archaeological find.

According to Ms Castejón, the pillar “has already been transferred for deposit to the Municipal Archaeological Museum of Cartagena Enrique Escudero de Castro, where it will be registered, catalogued and the circumstances of the discovery will be noted.”

With any luck, the column will be available to visit soon in the museum, so we can all enjoy part of the living history of this ancient city.

You might also like: Ruined Cathedral of Cartagena opens to visitors for four days a month

Images: Ayuntamiento de Cartagena

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