Orihuela Plans Restoration of Historic Los Saladares Archaeological Site
Orihuela Council is preparing a major restoration project designed to protect and promote the Los Saladares archaeological site, with plans to eventually include it in the municipality’s programme of guided cultural visits. The next phase is expected to begin in the coming months, subject to authorisation from the Valencian regional government’s Directorate-General for Cultural Heritage. […] The…
The Orihuela Council in southeastern Spain is embarking on a major restoration project to protect and promote the Los Saladares archaeological site. This project aims to include Los Saladares in the municipality's program of guided cultural visits. The site is considered one of the most significant protohistoric settlements in the region and along the eastern Iberian Peninsula.
Following years of research, excavation, and conservation work, the council plans to commence the next phase of the project in the coming months, pending authorization from the Valencian regional government's Directorate-General for Cultural Heritage. Councillor for Historical Heritage Matías Ruiz emphasized that this project represents a crucial step in the site's recovery, ensuring its protection and making it accessible to residents and visitors.
The restoration project builds upon previous conservation measures, including consolidation, maintenance, and preservation efforts. These measures have included covering excavated areas with geotextile material to prevent deterioration and placing additional stones on top of some walls to safeguard the original structures while enhancing their layout for future visitors.
The project is carried out in accordance with legal responsibilities to protect and conserve the site as an officially designated Asset of Cultural Interest. The consolidation and maintenance contract was awarded to Alebus Patrimonio Histórico SL, a company specializing in cultural heritage projects, under the supervision of municipal archaeologist Silvia Yus.
Los Saladares is believed to have been influenced by Phoenician culture, as evidenced by various artefacts discovered during excavations, including an ivory comb. The site offers valuable insights into the development of the settlement, construction techniques, and the role it played as a distribution center for Phoenician goods transported along the River Segura during the Bronze Age.
Designated as an Asset of Cultural Interest in 1978, Los Saladares holds significant historical and archaeological importance. Its purchase by Orihuela Council in 2019 aimed to support further excavation, research, and ultimately, the site's restoration, public interpretation, and opening to visitors.
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