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The team of archaeologists of the CSIC finds at the foot of the Castillejo de Monteagudo a royal palace of the 12th century associated with a large pool of 14 x 14 m;
a monumental complex whose configuration and implantation in the landscape is of a great singularity whose only precedent in the Muslim West is found in the Aulic city of Medina Azahara of Córdoba, in the 10th century.
When Murcia became the capital of Xarq al-Andalus, an independent state that had its own gold coin - one of the most appreciated in Europe - during the emirate of Ibn Mardanis (third quarter of the twelfth century), this kingdom was It extended through the eastern half of the Iberian Peninsula.
Known as King Wolf in the Christian chronicles, he turned Murcia into the capital of his state and transformed it into one of the most important cities in the Muslim West, endowing it with a large number of palaces and fortifications, among which the monumental complex stands out from Monteagudo, the palace of Santa Clara, the oratory of San Juan de Dios, the unfinished fortress of the Asomada and the walls of Murcia.
Precisely on the foot of the Castillejo de Monteagudo, it was where he built his recreational estate or almunia, with numerous orchards, ditches, pavilions, pools and gardens.
In this location, the archaeologists of the Higher Council of Scientific Research (CSIC) have been working since the summer of last year, on a project jointly supported by the City of Murcia and the Community.
However, it has not been until this last week when an unprecedented discovery has taken place: a royal palace chaired by a palatine pool (135m2) associated with a large cruise garden;
a monumental complex whose configuration only has the antecedent of the Cordoba palaces and gardens of Medina Azahara (10th century).
The Strengths of the Wolf King
These excavations are part of the strategic project Las Fortalezas del Rey Lobo, the first medieval archaeological park composed of 150 heritage sites around the fortresses of Monteagudo Castle, Castillejo, Larache Castle and Cabezo de Torres;
a landscape, natural and archaeological itinerary unique in Spain of more than 1.5 million m2.
José Ballesta, who visited the excavations with the Minister of Education and Culture, Esperanza Moreno, said that “the environment of Monteagudo is key to understanding how we were Murcia from the past and who we are today.
This heritage set, which dominates the entire Huerta de Murcia, is not only a cultural and landscape emblem of our municipality, it is a focus of historical and heritage wealth unique in the Spanish Mediterranean. â€
On the other hand, the mayor of Murcia reported on the different milestones that encompass this project and its current status:
Special Protection Plan
The special plan is in progress.
It was approved at the end of July on the Governing Board.
Expropriations hillside plots Castillo
In the expropriation the entire reporting process is being finalized after the hearing period that ended in mid-September of all allegations for final approval.
Restoration of the Castle and Christ of Monteagudo
By the end of November, the phase A work project will be completed, with a budget of 1.1 million euros.
A collaboration agreement will be signed with IPCE to extend the actions of this phase with the contribution of € 200,000 by the City Council for access and including the restoration of Cristo de Monteagudo.
Larache
The CARM has an investment project of more than € 200,000 for excavation, restoration and lighting of Larache Castle.
Roman road
In the coming weeks it will be sent for the tender of the work.
Execution budget: € 85,000
5,000 m2 of excavations
The excavations on the hillside of Castillejo, which were resumed on September 3, cover an area of ​​5,000m2 and are being directed by Julio Navarro Palazón, head of the research group "Laboratory of Archeology and Architecture of the City" (LAAC) , attached to the School of Arab Studies of the Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC).
A team of archaeologists, architects and restorers supported by about twenty students from UMU and UCAM participate in the excavation.
The campaign, which will end in the coming weeks, will allow to know better the infrastructure of the palace through new surveys in the environment.
In addition, the remains will be consolidated and restored so that they are perfectly preserved.
Last year, remains of a residential building, various hydraulic structures and a tower that are part of the archaeological site of King Lobo's recreational estate were found.
Source: Ayuntamiento de Murcia
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