La ciudadela fenicia. Excavaciones arqueológicas en el Cabezo Pequeño del Estaño (Guardamar del Segura, Alicante)

Resumo

Cabezo Pequeño del Estaño is located south of the wide estuary that forms the mouth of the Segura River (Guardamar, Alicante). Although today it is 2 km from the coast due to sedimentation, it was originally a port settlement. According to new researches, it was founded at the beginning of the 8th century B.C. by western Phoenicians, possibly coming from current Andalusia. This site allows us to know the early urban development of the area, and its functionality, which is related to trade and metallurgical activity. The site has a powerful casemate wall, with distinctly oriental pattern and metrics, as well as domestic and industrial buildings. At the end of the 8th century B.C., an earthquake, added to the likely silting up of the harbour, forced the abandonment of the site. Although it was partially destroyed by a quarry in 1989, the space remaining still allows the development of archaeological excavations.