MERIDA – A remarkable archaeological discovery has been made in the historic city of Mérida. Excavations at the house of the Amphitheater have uncovered excellently preserved Roman public baths containing “practically intact” gratings (rejas) of a window.
The excavations were carried out by the Consorcio de la Ciudad Monumental de Mérida. The iron grates were found in the apodyterium, or dressing room of the thermae. Furthermore, the Consorcia described them as an “exceptional” find. The latticework was part of the collapsed walls and roof of the room. Hence the presence of bricks, tiles and roof tiles, Consorcio explained in a statement.
El rico pasado patrimonial de Mérida sigue sorprendiéndonos día tras día.
El Consorcio de la Ciudad Monumental difundió ayer en Facebook cuatro fotografías en las que pueden verse las termas aparecidas en la Casa del Anfiteatro, donde también encontraron unas rejas romanas. 😳 pic.twitter.com/aIPs4ZBN5m
— José Antonio Reina (@JAReinaGonzalez) August 9, 2023
A similar grille was previously found during the work of the archaeologist García Sandoval between 1962 and 1963. This was in the kitchen of the house of the Amphitheatre.
The discovered iron fencing has been carefully recorded and stored by conservator-restorer Juan Altieri. Now an extensive process of cleaning and restoration awaits, to preserve these historical objects for future generations and eventually put them on public display.
“There is still a lot of archaeological heritage under the ground of the 2,000-year-old city of Mérida. It is like a huge wealth for the city waiting to be excavated,” a spokesperson stressed.
Merida
You can find Merida in the southwest of Spain in the Extremadura region. The city is known for its rich Roman heritage. It was once the capital of the Roman province of Lusitania and many of the ancient Roman structures are remarkably well preserved. The Roman Theatre, the Amphitheatre, and the Alcántara Bridge are just a few examples of the city’s impressive architecture.
Due to its exceptional collection of well-preserved Roman monuments, the archaeological ensemble of Mérida was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1993. Visitors from all over the world come to Mérida to explore these ancient wonders and immerse themselves in a piece of living history.
