Costa del Sol
Archaeologists discover remains of Phoenician city
By m.p. - Jul 12, 2006 - 9:36 PM
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The settlement in Mezquitilla dates from the 8th century BC and is the largest of its type in Andalucía
The remains of an Archaic Era Phoenician city have been unearthed in Mezquitilla, Vélez Málaga. Archaeologists say it is the largest settlement from that period in Andalucía, and also one of the largest in the Mediterranean.
The excavations have uncovered the remains of a block of houses, covering an area of 40 x 12 metres, although the whole city is said to have covered more than six hectares. Kitchen utensils and dishes have also been discovered intact.
The site is what remains of the Phoenician city of Las Chorreras, founded in the 8th century BC, and abandoned a hundred years later.
The Mayor of Vélez, Antonio Souvirón, has announced that the Town Hall has agreed to purchase the land from its owner so an area of archaeological protection can be established. He has asked the regional government’s cultural department to include the site on the cultural heritage list.