2023-09-08 20:26:55
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It served as a place for political debates
The ruins of an ancient Roman square have been found in the Spanish city of La Cabaneta, the University of Zaragoza has announced. According to archaeologists, this is the oldest public square discovered on the Iberian Peninsula, dating back more than 2,000 years.
According to recent research, the city located on the banks of the Ebro River in northeastern Spain was founded in the 2nd century BC, and not in the 9th century, as previously thought. But on the site of La Cabaneta, there was already a city that had a different name, unknown to researchers. It was destroyed during the Sertorian War around 70 BC.
A recent archaeological expedition made a surprising discovery: this unnamed city contained a gigantic area of 20 hectares, which was apparently used mostly for trading purposes.
The Roman city was located at the crossroads of trade routes. But the square also had other functions. It served as a gathering place for people – a forum. Political and social debates took place here.
The discovered ceramic tiles and other artifacts made it possible to date the archaeological site. “This is a find of exceptional importance, not only because of its size and architectural complexity, but also because it is the oldest forum square found on the Iberian Peninsula to date. This discovery will contribute to a radical transformation of our knowledge about the original distribution of Roman architectural models in Spain,” says archaeologist Borja Díaz.
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