Archaeological intervention in Temple’s street

At the end of May, an archaeological intervention was initiated motivated by a building permit on a site on Temple’s street, in the Dalt de la Vila neighborhood. As it is a site located within the protected area as BCIN of the site of the Roman City of Baetulo, an archeological survey is being carried out to detect the presence of remains from the Roman era, under the supervision of the Museum.

Despite the initial state of the excavation, which will last a few more weeks, it has been possible to document the presence of various structures from the 18th-19th centuries, including the remains of a building that was possibly part of the stables or spaces of storage of the Torre Vella , and two hydraulic structures. One is a water mine, which will be preserved in situ, and which was amortized at the end of the 19th century, when the Temple’s street was developed. It is a channel made with stone walls joined with mortar and a brick vault with a raised channel.

Among the landfill that has been mined so far, a singular piece from the late Middle Ages was recovered. It is a fragment of a decorative element that probably comes from the church of Santa Maria or the Torre Vella. In the piece you can see a male figure with a scroll of parchment in her hands, made in high relief on stoneware.

Interior of the water mine. Photo: J. Ardiaca

Exterior view of the water mine. Photo: J. Ardiaca

Medieval piece recovered during the excavations on Temple’s Street. Photo: Museu de Badalona