ARCHIVED - Alicante homeowner stunned to find 1st century Roman jugs in the basement
ARCHIVED ARTICLE -
The three Roman amphorae discovered at the woman's Santa Pola home were "possibly acquired by a deceased relative"
A woman busy cleaning her Santa Pola home to put it up for sale was left astonished when she stumbled across what she immediately recognised as historical artefacts in the basement.
She immediately contacted the Guardia Civil's Nature Protection Service, Seprona, in Elche, and a couple of specialists were sent to the home in December to investigate.
Sure enough, they found three large ceramic pieces of "historic value", and alerted Santa Pola Town Hall's Museo del Mar, the body in charge of the recovery, study and custody of the town's heritage.
The pieces were taken to the museum where the specialists are carrying out an authentication.
Preliminary analysis carried out by experts from Alicante University has determined that they are three Roman ceramic amphorae, possibly Baetica, from the High-Imperial period, probably the 1st century.
According to the experts, these historical pieces were likely found in one of the shipwrecks along the coast and "possibly acquired by a deceased relative" of the woman who reported the find.
Once they have been meticulously studied, cleaned and restored as far as is possible, they will be exhibited to the public at the Santa Pola museum.
Most of the amphorae found in this area were oil amphorae, used to transport oil from the Baetica area of the peninsula and shipped to the Portus Ilicitanus for transport to Rome.
Others were used to transport wine and fish sauces (garum), specialities "appreciated by the Romans".
The morphology of these particular pieces suggests that they could be amphorae used for storing and transporting one or other of these products.
Following the discovery, the Guardia Civil and the Santa Pola Town Council have reminded the public that pieces such as these belong to the historical heritage of underwater archaeology and are protected.
Law 4/98 of the Valencian Cultural Heritage establishes archaeological pieces, "as objects that make up the Historical Heritage,public domain goods and property of the Administration".
Article 65 of this law obliges any person who finds an archaeological object to report it to the authorities as soon as the discovery is made. Failure to do so may constitute a serious offence, punishable by a fine of between 60,001 and 150,000 euros.
"Anyone who has archaeological pieces of this type at home can help the Santa Polero heritage by donating them," added a representative from the Town Hall's museum, which can be contacted by calling 966 69 27 72 or by email: secretariamuseo@santapola.es
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