A preliminary report of investigations done from August to October 2024 in Albacete, Spain has highlighted the discovery of ancient Roman towers.
The expedition at the Libisosa National Park enhanced the understanding of the Roman presence in the region. Researchers were better able to solidify the timeline of the construction of the Republican wall in the modern-day city of Lezuza and the city’s decline near the fall of the empire. The primary purpose of the site intervention was to improve access to the area, but they made the important discovery of finding the towers along the way.
The ancient Roman towers that held an access gate to the city
The subsequent excavation of the area, known as Sector 17, is known as conflict archaeology. As the name suggests, it is when researchers specifically focus on the results of wars and other conflicts. This investigation was about the Sertorian Wars between 82 and 72 BC which led to the settlement’s destruction. The ruins can still be seen today in Lezuza.
The event left a strong archaeological imprint, as human remains and other artifacts paint a specific tale about the Cerro del Castillo de Lezuza battle. The site’s incredible preservation has allowed us to glimpse back to many phases of the Roman occupation of the region, including the native Iberian people’s first interactions with the empire.
The sector’s excavation began in 2022 when they found the East gate’s Southern tower. In 2023, they discovered there was another tower on the opposite side. The investigation of 2024 was more in-depth, finding the specifics about how the city entrance changed over time and its varying usage levels. They also found what is considered the most significant study on the site, and extramural building located in the Northern tower.
“In short, although the discovery of the towers has provided very interesting data regarding their construction technique and their relationship with the wall, the most noteworthy aspect of this research has been the location of various levels of use, collapse, depreciation, and abandonment, which are a new source of information on the evolution of the colony and its end, and which will have to be further defined with the study of the important material set recovered,” the province of Castilla la Mancha said in a press release.
The significance of the Roman building’s discovery lies in its location outside the city walls, as all Roman structures previously discovered had been identified within the boundaries. This finding prompts inquiries into urban planning and how the empire built the city.