The campaign will begin next week and will focus on Mola de Genessies and several caves and rock shelters in the Ports massif

During the second half of October and the first half of November, two archaeological survey campaigns will take place in the Tivissa-Vandellòs mountains, between Baix Camp and Ribera d’Ebre, and in the Ports massif, in the Terres de l’Ebre region. The work forms part of the four-year research project Poblament de muntanya de la serralada prelitoral sud-catalana (Mountain Settlement in the Southern Catalan Pre-Coastal Range), led by Dr Jordi López of the Catalan Institute of Classical Archaeology (ICAC) and Dr Josep Maria Vergès of the Catalan Institute of Human Palaeoecology and Social Evolution (IPHES).

During the second half of October and the first half of November, two archaeological survey campaigns will take place in the Tivissa-Vandellòs mountains, between Baix Camp and Ribera d’Ebre, and in the Ports massif, in the Terres de l’Ebre region. The work forms part of the four-year research project Poblament de muntanya de la serralada prelitoral sud-catalana (Mountain Settlement in the Southern Catalan Pre-Coastal Range), led by Dr Jordi López of the Catalan Institute of Classical Archaeology (ICAC) and Dr Josep Maria Vergès of the Catalan Institute of Human Palaeoecology and Social Evolution (IPHES).

Surveys at Mola de Genessies

In the Tivissa-Vandellòs mountains, the work will focus on Mola de Genessies, a difficult-to-access site located between the municipalities of Vandellòs and Tivissa. Its elevated position provides extensive views over the surrounding landscape, and the site preserves the remains of walls and dry-stone structures.

Archaeological materials from different periods have been recovered in this area, ranging from prehistoric times to the Middle Ages, with a notable presence of Late Roman and Visigothic materials.

The campaign will include detailed topographic mapping and photogrammetric recording of the Mola and the structures visible on the surface. Archaeological materials will also be surveyed, and several test trenches will be opened to further investigate the site.

Continuing fieldwork in the Ports massif

In Tortosa, within the Ports massif, the surveys begun last March will resume. During that initial campaign, twelve caves and rock shelters were investigated. The results revealed prehistoric remains in five of the cavities and Roman-period materials in two.

During this new campaign, a further twelve caves and rock shelters will be visited, and four previously defined areas will be surveyed. The work will involve documenting the cavities, paying particular attention to human-made structures, and examining materials visible on the surface in order to establish possible occupation dates.

The surveys will take place within the municipal boundaries of Tortosa, Roquetes, Paüls and Alfara de Carles. They will expand the archaeological record of the area and contribute to a better understanding of ancient settlement in the southern Catalan pre-coastal range.