Summary (English)
This excavation was carried out by ARPA Patrimonio, SL and coordinated by COPHIAM. What may be the pebble courtyard of an 18th century house was found. The stone floor lacked specific decoration; only the position of the pebbles and river stones around a series of ashlar courses formed perpendicular pavement lines. It is possible that there is a covered part of this house in this area, maybe part of the stables, as the stone floor is much rougher there (south) than in what may be the external area (the north side of the eastern trial trench). This area has a different pillar placement inside the central area of the trial trench. The columns probably supported a roof tilted towards the inside (like a Roman impluvium).
On the northern part of the eastern trial trench we can find a small vat leaning west and two holes to drain any liquids kept in this structure. This container could have been covered by a lid of which the joints embedded in the side stones were preserved. This structure could have collected rain water (like a Roman compluvium ) and, after a first decantation, it would have led the water towards the tank found in the western trial trench. Remains of a channel to drain liquids, with a southwest-northwest orientation, over a pit excavated in the geological layer of the area, and with remains of the Islamic period, were discovered beneath these structures. This channel was probably used to remove clay and was later filled with Islamic material.
The remains found in the western trial trench had been severely affected by contemporary earth movements that dumped a great amount of debris on this area. However, rests of the lime floor of a water tank were found. It has a west-east orientation, is filled with contemporary debris and it might be linked with the vat of the eastern trial trench through a small channel.
- José Ramón Ortega Pérez 
Director
- José Ramón Ortega Pérez y Guillermo Molina Burguera
Team
- MARQ, Museo Arqueológico Provincial de Alicante
Research Body
- Colegio Oficial de Doctores y Licenciados en Filosofía y Letras y en Ciencias de Alicante - Sección de Arqueología
Funding Body
- Artea Arquitectura, S.L.