Archaeologists Begin Major Excavation in Huelva's Plaza Arqueológica

An international team of archaeologists has started a structured excavation in the Plaza de la Vera Cruz, known as the Plaza Arqueológica, in Huelva, Spain. The project, led by Roald Docter of the University of Ghent and Alfredo Mederos of the Autonomous University of Madrid, aims to uncover layers of the city's ancient past and assess the claim that Huelva may be the oldest city in Western Europe, linked to the Tartessos civilization.

The four‑to‑five‑week dig will focus on two 6 × 8 metre squares in the garden area, using georadar data that previously identified subsurface structures at depths of one to two metres. About twenty workers, including students and technical staff from Ánfora, will conduct stratigraphic drilling and documentation. Findings are expected to contextualise previously discovered Phoenician and Greek ceramics and could later be displayed for public viewing, enhancing Huelva’s cultural heritage and tourism potential.