The current study campaign at the Roman site of Les Hortes has been completed. It has been three weeks during which action has been taken in two of the three surveys that were opened in phase 1. The Archaeological and Ethnological Museum of Xaló and the University of Alicante have finished this phase with very positive results.
The director of the museum, Ruben Vidal i Bertomeu, confirms the good streak regarding the detection of archaeological remains, both architectural elements and material culture. Thus, it has been possible to corroborate the previous indications about the torcularium, that is, the pressing area, within the productive sector of the town.
Among the most outstanding finds are the remains of two rafts and an almost complete dolium has also been documented in which there is a fragment that has a numerical inscription. It is likely that he refers to his ability. Regarding the torcular, what has not been ascertained is whether it performed the functions of pressing an oil mill, a wine press, or both.
Regarding the location of the urban part of the town, despite not knowing it exactly, it has been possible to document cultural material belonging to sumptuary elements that give clues to its existence.
This action is part of the action plan on the site carried out by the Xaló Town Council and the Xaló Archaeological and Ethnological Museum, with which this year the pottery oven of Les Hortes. It is a type of oven linked to the production of amphorae and construction materials. As explained by the Councilor for Heritage, Gerard Fullana, "thanks to this facility, the neighborhood can see the remains located on the same street."
The excavation that is now ending has been carried out by the Xaló museum and the archaeological team of the University of Alicante. And to put the final point yesterday, Thursday, there was a guided tour and an open day for people to see first-hand the results of the work.
