Archaeologists confirm Roman and Byzantine settlements on Portitxol island

Archaeologists have confirmed that the island of Portitxol was inhabited during the Roman and Byzantine eras after carrying out a number of excavations and uncovering plenty of evidence to be able to make the assertion. The specialist team from University of Alicante, which was made up of Juanfran Álvarez, Alejandro Prefaci and Jordi Blázquez, presented the first results of the fourth archaeological dig on the island at the Fundación CIRNE premises, which they have been able to carry out with the permission of the Pons family which owns the island. The experts worked with current and old aerial photos as well as documentation from the municipal museum which highlighted different points on the island where excavations should be made. With an initial approach on four areas, they first had to clear the areas, cut back a lot of vegetation and even prepare access paths on an island that was used for agricultural purposes as late as the 20th century when grapes for the raisin industry were grown. The digs have uncovered the foundations of a wall of a Roman villa, which they suggest could have been a summer house with some connections to the property that was located in the Punta del Arenal, next to what is now a private chalet and the Parador hotel. They have been able to date it to Roman times due to the number of ceramics found at the bas of the wall. In addition, another wall was uncovered in the highest part of the island that served as the perimeter of the property and next to it they found what could be cistern.

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