‘Abandoned’ heritage in Costa Blanca’s Almuñecar could be lost forever

THE PSOE party of Almuñecar and La Herradura have expressed their concerns about the risk of losing important archaeological sites, and the ‘unfortunate abandonment’ of assets of cultural interest to the public.

Spokesperson, Rocío Palacios, said: “Archaeological sites such as the Puente de Noy Necropolis, testimony of incalculable value of our Phoenician-Punic past are totally abandoned, unprotected, affected by rain and other inclement weather, overgrown grass, without any cleaning, and there are gates and oxidized protection fences without any tourist signalling.”

She said “it is inconceivable that a site of that importance, which was used even by the Romans and that survived as a burial place from the seventh to the first century BC, is in that state of abandonment and that you cannot even visit it”.

The party has highlighted other archaeological areas in a similar situation:

These include the salting factory of the Parque del Majuelo (which dates back to the end of the 5th century BC or the beginning of the 4th century BC), San Miguel Castle and the Aqueduct of La Carrera and Roman baths of La Carrera.

Palacios added: “It is sad to see that our municipal government cares so little to keep that legacy in an adequate state. Our historical past, the vestiges that remain of it, is one of the main values ​​that define us as a town and that differentiate us from other tourist destinations.

“We must keep our important historical heritage in an adequate state of conservation and signalling so that it can be known by both our visitors and our residents.”

She went on to say that if the local government does not act fast, “the damage will be irreparable”.