A georadar survey conducted on 31 March in Reus, Tarragona, found no evidence of a mass grave believed to hold the remains of dozens of republicans. The technical study in Jacint Barrau street did not detect the industrial well where victims were reportedly interred during the early months of the Franco regime's entry into the Baix Camp capital.
Following these results, the Directorate General of Democratic Memory and Reus City Council have decided against an archaeological excavation for the time being. However, the investigation remains open, and plans are in place to honour the site, which once served as a Francoist concentration camp.
Search for Republican Remains Continues
The search for the mass grave has been a significant point of interest for historical memory groups and families of victims. Reports suggested that the well contained the remains of individuals executed or who died shortly after the Francoist forces took control of Reus.
Despite the lack of direct evidence from the georadar, officials said the commitment to understanding and acknowledging the historical context of the site remains. The area's past as a concentration camp is a key part of its history, according to local authorities.
Moving forward, the focus will shift towards memorialising the space. This could involve installing plaques, monuments, or other forms of recognition to ensure that the memory of those who suffered under the Franco regime is preserved, even without the discovery of the physical remains.
