Benidorm – Excavations continue at El Tossal Roman Ruins.

The Tossal de la Cala is a headland which divides the coast line, separating La Cala de Benidorm on one side from the Cala de Finestrat on the other, protecting the coves from the North Easterly winds.

The first excavations in the area were undertaken by Father Belda in the 1940s and then by Professor M Tarradell in 1965 and they uncovered ruins on the hillside dating back to the 1^st and 2^nd Centuries B.C. This archaeological discovery was declared to be of Cultural Interest in September 1984.

In 2013 the University of Alicante conducted excavations in the area, which revealed a Roman Settlement of Quinto Sertorian Troops in the area during the Sertorian War.

The latest excavations conducted this year by archaeologists, have confirmed that there were two buildings in the Roman fortress, which date back to the 1^st Centuary B.C.

We now know that there was a long narrow building on El Tossal, with a staircase that led to an upper floor that housed soldiers, as well as another larger building with various rooms that probably housed the officers or even a hospital.

During these latest excavations, fragments of ceramic amphoras used to store wine, cooking vessels and crockery, were uncovered. The most surprising discovery was a lead “Monetiforme” or token coin. These token coins were used to pay the troops when times were hard and they were unable to mint silver or bronze coins.

Feliciana Sala, the Archaeology Professor from Alicante University, who is in charge of the excavation project, believes that this token, similar to one uncovered in an excavation in La Peña del Aguila in Denia, confirms that area was strategic during the Sertorian Wars.

The token is due to be analyzed in the Archaeological Museum of Alicante (MARQ) to determine where and when it was issued.

Apart from the field work, there are photographs from the excavations of 1956 which are being re examined in detail, to try and re construct the Fortress. They also hope to exhibit these panoramic photographs from the 1950’s in the Boca Calvari Museum in the center of Benidorm.