Roman Tombs Unearthed in Maó

Excavations in the Plaça Princep, as part of a project to reform the square, have to date unearthed six tombs, containing skeletons and items of pottery, believed to date from the Roman era. It has long been known that this central part of Maó was built on a Roman necropolis and the work now being carried out has presented archaeologists with the ideal opportunity to conduct a dig and glean more information about that period of Menorcan history, the first and second centuries AD.

The latest tomb to be uncovered has aroused extra interest as, apart from bones, it contained numerous pieces of pottery which are very well preserved, including household crockery, such as pots and plates. The items will be sent for a more detailed analysis and then, presumably (although there has been no official statement to this effect), returned to Menorca and put on public display.

The Councillor for Culture has stated that the archaeological dig will not delay the completion of the work on the square which will please the residents, as this is one of the town’s main thoroughfares, and businesses around the square which are suffering from the dust and difficulty in accessing their premises.