Tarragona’s Guàrdia Urbana has recovered hundreds of archaeological artefacts that were illegally kept for more than 30 years by an archaeologist who lives in Torredembarra. The items came from around 260 excavations carried out at different sites across Tarragona.
Officials said the archaeologist did not submit reports or return materials from those specific excavations. He had, however, properly documented and handed back findings from another 200 digs.
The recovered collection includes a Roman funerary inscription and more than 1,000 coins minted during the Peninsular War, known in Spain as the Guerra del Francès. The items had been held privately instead of being catalogued for public heritage records.
The recovery brings the pieces back into official custody, where they can now be studied and preserved through the city’s heritage system. Authorities have not said when the full catalogue of items will be completed.
For more local reporting from across Catalonia, see our news coverage.
