El MARQ the 2020 excavation campaign has concluded in the Illeta dels Banyets with important advances that highlight the site as one of the archaeological sites with the greatest number and variety of archaeological finds. productive infrastructures of the first half of the 3rd century BC.
One of the most significant discoveries has been the uncovering of facilities that predate the Roman presence and point to the existence of a "fish preservation "factoryprobably as a salted fish, before pre-Roman times. This and other revelations, such as a pitch kiln and infrastructures for the production of wine, oil or esparto processingThe fact that this settlement is a reference point for the study of the techniques applied in the transformation processes of raw materials in antiquity and, in particular, in the Iberian period, makes this settlement a reference point for the study of the techniques applied in the transformation processes of raw materials in antiquity and, in particular, in the Iberian period.
The vice-president and deputy for Culture, Julia Parra, has guaranteed that "the excavation work will continue next year to make further progress in the investigation of a unique enclave from a cultural and tourist point of view in which, as the latest findings reveal, much remains to be discovered". The second phase of the research project "Excavation of the Southwest Quarter of the Punic settlement of Illeta dels Banyets (Sector J)" forms part of the Excavation plan for the Archaeological Museum of Alicante and ran from 31 August to 30 September 2020.
In the campaign, led by Manuel Olcina and Adoración Martínezas well as Rafael Pérez as Conservation Officer, have been involved three specialised operators in archaeology, in charge of preparing the site and supporting the archaeological excavation. In addition, the following people have collaborated with the project seven volunteersThe project was attended by archaeology graduates and students, who were able to practice in the field while familiarising themselves with the tasks of archaeological documentation in the field and with laboratory work.
In total, a large area of around 120 square metres of land was opened up in order to maintain the safety distances required by the Covid-19 protocols. The excavation work has revealed the existence of two large, well-defined areas; on the one hand, the new production area equipped with quadrangular stone platforms, which must have housed basins lined with hydraulic lime mortar to make them waterproof, and, on the other hand, a passageway area similar to other alleyways that exist at the site as service roads, responsible for communicating the main streets with the production areas.
