A remarkable archaeological discovery, already hailed as one of the most significant finds in Lucena in recent decades, was made during the renovation of Plaza Juan Ruiz de Castroviejo. The work, carried out under the PFEA state employment support program, led excavators to unearth an ancient burial structure. This late Roman period tomb represents the oldest archaeologically confirmed object found to date in the center of Lucena.
The funerary monument was rectangular in shape, constructed meticulously using stone, brick, and lime mortar. Inside the structure, researchers recovered human remains belonging to at least six, and potentially as many as eight, different individuals. Two skeletons, identified as male and female, were preserved almost entirely. They were positioned parallel to each other, with their arms folded across their chests.
Further examination revealed skulls and bones from earlier interments located beneath and near the feet of the primary pair. It is hypothesized that these belonged to older relatives who had been carefully moved aside to create space for the newer bodies within the crypt.
According to archaeologist Daniel Botella, who is directing the ongoing excavations, the specific characteristics of the structure, including the dimensions of the stone slabs and the high quality of the masonry, strongly suggest that this was the family vault of an affluent household. Preliminary analysis places the burial around the 6th century, corresponding to Late Antiquity, a time when Roman rural settlements were still present in the area that would eventually become modern Lucena.
The historical importance of this finding is immense. Previously, the earliest archaeological evidence within the city limits dated back only to the 9th century, associated primarily with an early Jewish community. The newly discovered tomb dramatically shifts the timeline of human habitation in the territory, extending the known history of settlement back by nearly four centuries. Researchers speculate that the tomb may have been part of a small necropolis situated close to a Roman villa. If this theory proves correct, this location could potentially mark the very genesis of the initial settlements from which the city of Lucena eventually grew.
Due to the unfortunate placement of the burial site directly along the planned route for new utility lines, retaining the structure in situ was deemed impossible. Consequently, in agreement with the Junta de Andalucía, the decision was made to carefully dismantle the tomb and relocate it to the Municipal Museum of Lucena. Every structural element is being meticulously documented, assigned a unique number, mapped via photogrammetry, and drawn at a 1:10 scale. This rigorous process ensures that the original structure can be precisely reconstructed within the museum environment. Concurrently, a three-dimensional model is being created, which will serve as the foundation for a future audiovisual exhibition reconstruction.
Mayor Aurelio Fernández emphasized the administration’s commitment to preserving the monument, even if it causes a slight delay in the completion of the plaza renovation. He underscored that this discovery not only enriches the city’s historical heritage but also allows residents to feel a deeper connection to their own past. The late Roman tomb from Plaza Juan Ruiz de Castroviejo serves as a crucial archaeological key, unlocking the earliest chapters of Lucena’s history and demonstrating how much hidden history still lies beneath the urban landscape, ready to be revealed by seemingly routine construction projects.