Very important archaeological find in Benitatxell. An ethnological study and the restoration of the Cova de les Morretes, commissioned by the City Council to the company Arqueo Inventario SL, has made it possible to locate an important concealment of coins.
The Cova de les Morretes is the first of four located on the Ruta dels Penya-segats, a unique place that has one of the most spectacular views of the Alicante coast. It was not clear when these cave houses were built, only the date of abandonment, around the 50-60s of the XNUMXth century. They served as a refuge for people from humble backgrounds who were dedicated to fishing and exploiting the surrounding terraces. As a complement to their precarious situation, they practiced smuggling, very possibly tobacco.
The first phase of the project has consisted of clearing the area, cleaning the cave and its virtualization through photogrammetry and drone flight. In turn, metal detection has been used and it is the first time that the intervention has been recorded and shared on social networks through the YouTube channel of the archaeological company “Arqueo Directo”.
During the first cleaning work, a first coin was located, a fact for which the project directors considered the possibility of using metal detection as a tool to determine the possible existence, or not, of more coins or objects that would provide more information. . For these works, we had the collaboration of Virgilio García, a detectorist with extensive proven experience and who has the YouTube channel "Metallic Detection", with nearly 4 million followers.
The combination of Archeology and metal detection led to spectacular results, since it allowed the detection and delimitation of a treasure, a concealment of 67 coins, which were later excavated using archaeological methodology and photogrammetry.
In addition to the treasure made up of Spanish coins from the Provisional Government and Alfonso XII, dated between 1869-1879, the presence of other coins from different periods has been evidenced, such as one from Vittorio Emanuelle II of Italy 1861-1878, coins from the Franco era and a doubler Mallorcan from 1665-1700 of Carlos II. Other ceramic materials and utensils such as jars, a basin or a fragment of a basin, have made it possible to illustrate the way of life in these cave houses.
Very likely the cave dweller had his money hidden so that no one would steal it while he was not there. It seems that the coins were found in a leather bag that had decomposed due to the blackish layer of low compaction that surrounded them.
Faced with the possible looting of the rest of the caves after the news of the appearance of the treasure, the facultative management together with the Councilor for Culture and Heritage, Víctor Bisquert, decided to intervene in the rest of the caves. This preliminary study made it possible to catalog a new cave and recover other objects, including some fishing gear and a series of coins that coincide with the chronology proposed for the Cova de les Morretes (last quarter of the XNUMXth century to the middle of the XNUMXth).
Among the objects found, it is worth highlighting a bullet that, after consulting with experts from the Civil Guard, dated to around 1850-1900, and a modified Remington rifle casing, dated between 1889-1892, which is in perfect agreement with the chronology provided. by archaeologists. Finally, in a small shelter of difficult access, it was possible to locate a Mallorcan doubler belonging to Carlos II and a bullet from an arquebus, both dated at the end of the XNUMXth century.
It should be noted that the work carried out by Arqueo Inventario in the Cova de les Morretes and its surroundings have been followed by more than one and a half million people thanks to social networks, constituting an important tool for the dissemination and enhancement of cultural heritage. and Archaeology.
As the Councilor for Culture and Heritage, Víctor Bisquert, has pointed out, the intention is that, once the restoration work is completed, the Cova de les Morretes can be visited in person and virtually, making it an accessible place for all people. “We want to preserve and protect this site and value the extremely important treasures that have been found thanks to the excellent work of the Archaeo Inventory professionals.”
great article! great invention arrested her Metal!!