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Byzantine warehouse uncovered at Puerto de Mazarrón dig
Excavation reveals 2nd-7th century port structures next to marina
Puerto de Mazarrón's rich history just got richer. Archaeologists working on a building plot opposite the marina, right by the Guardia Civil barracks, have uncovered Roman and Byzantine remains dating from the 2nd to 7th centuries AD. The site at the corner of Comercio and Hernán Cortés streets was expected to yield finds, given its location in a protected archaeological zone near a Roman fish-salting factory museum and a Late Roman complex on Eras Street.Excavations began in October and are now 75% complete. The regional Servicio de Patrimonio Histórico (Historical Heritage service), overseeing the work, describes "a complex construction and archaeological sequence with various phases of occupation that are helping us understand the historical and archaeological evolution of this urban area."
Initial findings show stable domestic activity from the late 2nd to early 5th centuries AD, with houses built of lime-bonded masonry, lime floors, and rammed earth walls plastered with lime and gypsum. African terra sigillata pottery (Roman tableware imported from North Africa (modern Tunisia area), known for its distinctive red glaze) and kitchen ceramics confirm people lived and worked here.
After a period of abandonment around 500 AD, oval-shaped postholes suggest temporary huts or "ephemeral workspaces" appeared in the early 5th century. These preceded a major structure from the late 5th to mid-6th century, likely a port warehouse or 'horreum' built on a grid plan using recycled materials.
By the mid-6th century, these storage spaces were converted into domestic rooms, coinciding with Byzantine presence in south-eastern Iberia. Amphorae and period ceramics pinpoint this reoccupation to the late 6th and early 7th centuries.
The discoveries raise questions about a planned apartment building on the site. It's too early to say if the remains will halt construction, but precedent exists. In 2022, nearby on Eras and Corredera Streets, the Culture department permitted dismantling of Late Republican/Imperial burials plus 6th-7th century dwellings and storage structures to allow building work to proceed.
Once excavation finishes and analysis is complete, officials from the Servicio de Patrimonio Histórico will decide the site's future.
Image: Archives
