Discover the history of the El Mèdol quarry with the podcast from the L’Hora Local program on Altafulla Radio.
Jordi López Vilar (MIRMED) and Anna Gutiérrez Garcia-Moreno (ArPA-LIRA, UEA) had the opportunity to visit the L’Hora Local program on the local station Altafulla Ràdio, hosted by journalist Eduard Virgili.
During their participation, ICAC researchers featured a new paper titled “El Mèdol, from Emblematic Place to Key Archaeological Site”, published in the latest issue of the journal Estudis Altafullencs edited by Centre d’Estudis d’Altafulla.
In this edition of the “El centre en antena” section, Jordi López and Anna Gutiérrez offer a detailed perspective on the archaeological significance of the El Mèdol quarry, one of the most significant during the Roman era. This quarry, with an approximate area of 80,000 square meters, stands out not only for its scenic beauty but also for its crucial role in the construction of the Roman city of Tarraco and the monuments of the province of Tarraconensis.
Discover how the El Mèdol quarry has contributed to the architectural grandeur of Tarragona, the capital of the province of Tarraconensis
Over the past 20 years, numerous investigations have been carried out at this site, revealing important data about the life and economic and social activities around Roman Tarragona. Its privileged location, close to the Via Augusta and the sea, facilitated the transport of stone blocks to the city, making it an essential source of building materials.
Additionally, Jordi López and Anna Gutiérrez explain how, despite being known since medieval times, no significant archaeological actions were taken at El Mèdol until after the 2011 fire, revealing the quarry’s true nature and the spectacular needle.
To learn more details about this emblematic place and the discoveries made, we invite you to listen to the full podcast interview on the L’Hora Local program on Altafulla Ràdio, with Eduard Virgili. Thank you for the warm welcome!
You can access the podcast cut with the interview here:
Paper reference: López Vilar, J.; Gutiérrez Garcia-M., A. (2024). «El Mèdol, d’indret emblemàtic a jaciment arqueològic clau». Estudis Altafullencs 48, p. 27-54.
About the Catalan Institute of Classical Archaeology (ICAC-CERCA)
The Catalan Institute of Classical Archaeology (ICAC-CERCA) is a CERCA center established as a consortium in 2003 by the Government of Catalonia and the Rovira i Virgili University. It is a Catalan institution with an international scope, at the forefront of research and conservation of archaeological heritage. Its headquarters are in Tarragona, a city recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000. Its researchers work to understand the past through the study of archaeological remains and promote the preservation of the historical legacy. We are CERCA!
For more information, visit www.icac.cat.
