New excavations at the Ciutadella de Roses, in Alt Empordà, have uncovered Greek-era structures and potential evidence of occupation between the 7th and 10th centuries. The latest campaign, conducted beneath the Santa Maria monastery, confirmed the large size of a funerary complex dating from the 4th to 6th centuries.
Lluís Palahí, director of the excavations, said the complex could be comparable to basilicas found in cities like Empúries or Tarragona. The work also located three monolithic stone sarcophagi, believed to originate from "the Narbonne area of Gaul," which, according to Palahí, "would explain the commercial importance of Roses."
Excavations around the monastery began in 2022, with annual campaigns since then. Last year's work revealed the monastery's evolution and the remains of a large late antique funerary complex from the 4th to 6th centuries. While a small funerary church from the 4th-5th centuries, surrounded by a palaeochristian cemetery, had been known since the mid-20th century, recent findings confirmed that the structure excavated earlier was part of a much larger complex, even bigger than the later monastery.
Uncovering Ancient Roses
Palahí estimates the complex could cover about 500 square metres, with dimensions similar to a basilica. This year's campaign also found three stone sarcophagi, known to have come from the Narbonne area in southern Gaul, and completed work on two other phases.
One phase involved recovering structures and levels from the Greek occupation period, specifically what appears to be a room. Palahí explained that while this Greek phase of Rhodes is well-known, "apart from the Hellenistic quarter, few structures have been recovered."
Another significant element, likely to be the focus of campaigns over the next four years, is to fill the "gap" in Roses' late antique period history. "We know that Roses was occupied during the Greek and Roman eras. But theoretically, it was abandoned from the 7th century and reoccupied from the 10th," Palahí detailed.
Bridging Historical Gaps
However, the new campaign has started to shed light on this period. "In these excavations, we are beginning to recover data that brings us closer to the idea that, in certain specific points, there could have been some continuity of occupation between the 7th and 10th centuries, which until now we believed was abandoned," Palahí added.
Separately, the Roses Chair of Archaeology and Archaeological Heritage, supported by Roses Town Council, has produced a visitor guide for the complex. This guide, a common feature at other archaeological sites but new to the Ciutadella, is considered "very necessary for the transfer of research done by the university," according to Marc Bouzas, director of the chair. He said it is designed to accompany visitors to the Ciutadella heritage site.
The guide is split into two parts: one outlining the route and another explaining the site's different phases. It also includes digital support with QR codes, providing access to material that will be regularly updated in various languages, including English, Spanish, and French.
