More than four hundred medieval Islamic tombs have been uncovered during road works in Tauste.
According to the archaeologists, during the road works, these belong to the necropolis that dates back to the 8th and 9th centuries. Tauste seems to have been an important town during the Al-Andalus period.
Excavations conducted during the road works on Obispo Conget Avenue in Tauste have uncovered more tombs of the Islamic necropolis of the town that dates back to the 8th and 9th centuries and is considered one of the oldest in the Iberian Peninsula. The find of new burial sites has once again shown the relevance of this cemetery, whose discovery in 2010 contributed to reevaluating the Islamic presence in Tauste.
Until then, it had been deemed meagre. So far, three hundred forty-five tombs have been dug out on Obispo Conget Avenue. Although considering the works that are yet to be done and the density of the tombs already uncovered, more than four hundred new tombs are expected to be found.
Guidelines of the regulation
The team of archaeologists from Paleoymas, the company that conducts excavations and the subsequent study of the remains, points out that “even though certain damages were done to the bones by sanitary drains, graded aggregate and tarmac must have kept the tombs virtually intact”.
Following the guidelines of the regulation in force established by the General Directorate of Cultural Heritage of the government of Aragon, once the archaeological excavations are finished, subsequent cataloguing and study of recovered remains must be carried out, in particular, the anthropological ones. At least 10% of the documented burials must be thoroughly studied.
Once all the works are done, the archaeologists shall provide a detailed report about the entire process with graphic, planimetric and altimetric documentation, as well as a detailed description of stratigraphy, structures and recovered materials.
Studies on the Islamic necropolis in Tauste
“These road works provide us with a unique opportunity to continue our study on the Islamic necropolis in Tauste”, say the representatives of the El Patiaz Cultural Association, the promoter of the study on the cemetery and the one in charge of the previous trial excavations. In July 2013, this association conducted fieldwork in the area under the supervision of the archaeologist Francisco Javier Gutiérrez and the tutorial guidance of the professor of Medieval History Carlos Laliena. 22 students of various degrees and specialities from different parts of Spain participated in this fieldwork.
To raise awareness and enable scientific communications, the El Patiaz Cultural Association founded the Anthropological Observatory of the Islamic Necropolis of Tauste, a programme managed and supervised by anthropologist Miriam Pina Pardos. She conducts the analysis of the remains found during the excavations and makes their results known in scientific forums and publications.
For further information contact:
Miriam Pina Pardos, Telephone 636827926 mpina@unizar.es
Tauste Tourist Information Centre
Telephone 654 14 63 63
Telephone 693 70 79 25
