- Region
- Águilas
- Alhama de Murcia
- Jumilla
- Lorca
- Los Alcázares
- Mazarrón
- San Javier
-
ALL AREAS & TOWNS
- AREAS
- SOUTH WEST
- MAR MENOR
- MURCIA CITY & CENTRAL
- NORTH & NORTH WEST
- TOWNS
- Abanilla
- Abarán
- Aguilas
- Alamillo
- Alcantarilla
- Aledo
- Alhama de Murcia
- Archena
- Balsicas
- Blanca
- Bolnuevo
- Bullas
- Cañadas del Romero
- Cabo de Palos
- Calasparra
- Camping Bolnuevo
- Campo De Ricote
- Camposol
- Canada De La Lena
- Caravaca de la Cruz
- Cartagena
- Cehegin
- Ceuti
- Cieza
- Condado de Alhama
- Corvera
- Costa Cálida
- Cuevas De Almanzora
- Cuevas de Reyllo
- El Carmoli
- El Mojon
- El Molino (Puerto Lumbreras)
- El Pareton / Cantareros
- El Raso
- El Valle Golf Resort
- Fortuna
- Fuente Alamo
- Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort
- Hacienda Riquelme Golf Resort
- Isla Plana
- Islas Menores & Mar de Cristal
- Jumilla
- La Azohia
- La Charca
- La Manga Club
- La Manga del Mar Menor
- La Pinilla
- La Puebla
- La Torre
- La Torre Golf Resort
- La Unión
- Las Palas
- Las Ramblas
- Las Ramblas Golf
- Las Torres de Cotillas
- Leiva
- Librilla
- Lo Pagan
- Lo Santiago
- Lorca
- Lorquí
- Los Alcázares
- Los Balcones
- Los Belones
- Los Canovas
- Los Nietos
- Los Perez (Tallante)
- Los Urrutias
- Los Ventorrillos
- Mar De Cristal
- Mar Menor
- Mar Menor Golf Resort
- Mazarrón
- Mazarrón Country Club
- Molina de Segura
- Moratalla
- Mula
- Murcia City
- Murcia Property
- Pareton
- Peraleja Golf Resort
- Perin
- Pilar de la Horadada
- Pinar de Campoverde
- Pinoso
- Playa Honda
- Playa Honda / Playa Paraíso
- Pliego
- Portmán
- Pozo Estrecho
- Puerto de Mazarrón
- Puerto Lumbreras
- Puntas De Calnegre
- Region of Murcia
- Ricote
- Roda Golf Resort
- Roldan
- Roldan and Lo Ferro
- San Javier
- San Pedro del Pinatar
- Santiago de la Ribera
- Sierra Espuña
- Sucina
- Tallante
- Terrazas de la Torre Golf Resort
- Torre Pacheco
- Totana
- What's On Weekly Bulletin
- Yecla
- EDITIONS: Spanish News Today Alicante Today Andalucia Today
ARCHIVED - Controversy over the legendary palace of Hasdrubal in Cartagena
Calls for the supposed site of the palace to be preserved despite no evidence of its existence ever having been found
A centuries-old archaeological and historical mystery which stems from the writings of the Greek historian Polybius in the second century BC has recently been the cause of a good deal of controversy in Cartagena, following the Town Hall’s decision to sell off various plots of land in the Moreira district at the foot of the western side of the hill known as the Molinete.
The Molinete has been the focus of extensive archaeological excavation in recent years and the remains have been uncovered of numerous Roman buildings along with countless artifacts dating back up to 2,000 years. In this context the Town Hall has ensured that although those bidding for the plots of land concerned will be allowed to build residential properties on them, the remains found will not be affected and will be preserved as they are.
But Iván Negueruela, the director of Spain’s national underwater archaeology museum (the Arqua) in Cartagena, firmly believes that despite all the digs which have been undertaken on the Molinete the hill still holds an even greater treasure: the legendary palace of the Carthaginian general Hasdrubal.
Sr Neguerela bases his claims on a work written by Polybius in approximately 150 BC, when he described the ancient city of Qart Hadasht and mentioned a hill on which “magnificent royal palaces” stood, and although no evidence of such structures has been found at the Molinete site he is so convinced that in 2015 he published a book expounding his theory.
For this reason he is demanding that further investigations be carried out at the site before residential property development is permitted, and has sought the support of the Ministry of Culture, who have assigned a team of experts to assess the situation.
But the scientific community in general is not of the same view, believing that the amount of archaeological work already performed at the Molinete is enough to conclude that Hasdrubal’s palace was not built on the Molinete during the brief period when Cartagena was in the hands of the civilization after which it is named, between 228 and 209 BC. So sure are they that 113 archaeologists and heritage managers have signed an open letter demanding respect for their work and conclusions and those of their colleagues, including all those who have been involved in digs over the last 12 years.
At no point in that time, they point out, has any vestige been found which could indicate the presence of the remains of Hasdrubal’s palace, and Sr Negueruela’s book, having failed to make an impression on the scientific and academic community, should not be allowed to influence the opinion of the Town Hall.
The letter goes on to claim that the archaeological heritage of Cartagena is being used for purely political purposes by some groups in Cartagena, but this has angered a group which has been fighting for the last 23 years to preserve the Molinete in its entirety. They also allege political machinations, claiming that the signatures on the letter include those of a journalist, a retired literature teacher, a former PP member of parliament and three of her relatives, none of whom are entitled to a technical opinion on the matter.
A new museum and visitors’ route have been created on the hill, including fascinating remnants of Roman and other structures dating from as early as the 3rd century BC. These include a sanctuary at the top of the hill, the atrium building and a temple dedicated to the gods Serapis and Isis, but no evidence related to Hasdrubal the Fair, the predecessor of Hannibal as governor of the Carthaginian provinces in Iberia.
Amidst the row, the Mayoress, Ana Belén Castejón has invited the Minsiter of Culture, José Manuel Rodríguez Uribes to come and visit the site and to see for himself "in situ" how the city council is protecting its archaeological heritage, including the cerro del Molinete.
The town hall says in a press release that: "for Castejón, “it is important that they see how rigorous we are when it comes to recovering archaeological heritage. All the actions that have been carried out in the municipality of Cartagena have received favorable reports from all the binding and mandatory bodies. In the case at hand, it has a report from the General Directorate of Cultural Assets of the CARM, with the team of experts from the City Council and with the support of professionals in the field of archeology."
Cartagena
El Carmoli
Islas Menores and Mar de Cristal
La Manga Club
La Manga del Mar Menor
La Puebla
La Torre Golf Resort
La Union
Los Alcazares
Los Belones
Los Nietos
Los Urrutias
Mar Menor Golf Resort
Pilar de la Horadada
Playa Honda / Playa Paraiso
Portman
Roldan and Lo Ferro
San Javier
San Pedro del Pinatar
Santa Rosalia Lake and Life resort
Terrazas de la Torre Golf Resort
Torre Pacheco
Aledo
Alhama de Murcia
Bolnuevo
Camposol
Condado de Alhama
Fuente Alamo
Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort
Lorca
Mazarron
Puerto de Mazarron
Puerto Lumbreras
Sierra Espuna
Totana
Abaran
Alcantarilla
Archena
Blanca
Corvera
El Valle Golf Resort
Hacienda Riquelme Golf Resort
Lorqui
Molina de Segura
Mosa Trajectum
Murcia City
Peraleja Golf Resort
Ricote
Sucina
Condado de Alhama
El Valle Golf Resort
Hacienda del Alamo Golf Resort
Hacienda Riquelme Golf Resort
Islas Menores and Mar de Cristal
La Manga Club
La Torre Golf Resort
Mar Menor Golf Resort
Mazarron Country Club
Mosa Trajectum
Peraleja Golf Resort
Santa Rosalia Lake and Life resort
Terrazas de la Torre Golf Resort
La Zenia
Lomas de Cabo Roig
CAMPOSOL TODAY Whats OnCartagena SpainCoronavirusCorvera Airport MurciaMurcia Gota Fria 2019Murcia property news generic threadWeekly Bulletin