If in the first of the six phases that form part of the research project at the Cortijo de Acebedo site in Mijas a "potter's kiln" with six ovens and Roman baths were discovered; and in the second, to the "surprise" of the multidisciplinary team of archaeologists coordinated by Desirée Piñero of the Historical Heritage Department of Mijas Town Hall, several tombs from the Phoenician period (7th and 6th centuries BC) were uncovered; the work in this third phase, which began last Tuesday, August 22nd, will continue with the excavation of all the tombs that make up the necropolis and which, among other aspects, as Piñero points out, "will allow us to learn even more about the funerary ritual, how these people were buried and to get a little closer to those who lived in this area". 

During his visit, the mayor of Mijas, Josele González (PSOE), stressed that in the last mandate "we made an unprecedented effort to value the historical heritage that Acebedo has provided us with, which has aroused interest in the specialist world both in Malaga and in the rest of Andalusia", and pointed out that "there is great excitement and good prospects for what we may find in this phase and every time we open a grid we find different spaces, which are striking and in many cases a reference because they provide elements that are of exceptional and particular interest in each of the cases" as has happened in the 18 tombs that have already been found in previous phases.

First steps

It is still too early to calculate the approximate extension of the area to be worked on until February, as Piñero stated: "At the moment, archaeology does not allow us to see beyond what we are excavating. Perhaps it will extend more towards the western part of the site, and little by little we are delimiting it, and possibly, we will discover a group of tombs that will allow us to delimit the space that this necropolis occupied and occupies". 

Questioned about the first remains that are appearing, Piñero explains that "with the results obtained from some prospections, a kind of X-ray that was made of the terrain, magnetic anomalies were recognised that are a consequence of fire, like the funerary ritual of this necropolis, such as cremation, therefore this indication of fire could correspond to the space that we are currently focusing on".

Once the excavations are finished, the research phase will begin: "The issues, the questions are raised here during the excavation and the answers appear during the research phase, the study and interpretation of the data", explains the coordinator.

Research of reference

The mayor stressed that "this area has now become the only major reference point in the province" and that in future, once the six phases of the project are completed, "it will be of incalculable value from the point of view of historical heritage for the town of Mijas". 

For his part, the councillor for Historical Heritage, Nicolás Cruz (PSOE), indicated that "we are at the halfway point of this study and so far the results have been magnificent, so much so that the Archaeological Museum of Malaga itself and the delegation of the Andalusian Regional Government have requested these findings to further study to see how they can collaborate with the development of the project and that is why we are very pleased with the results, and that is why we are very hopeful that what we find will add to the wealth of findings, procedures, rituals, which have been found in the first two phases".

The coordinator of the Historical Heritage department assured that "nobody imagined, neither in the scientific nor in the research field, that this type of necropolis would be here", and added that "we are the highlight of the discoveries that are being made and that have been made throughout history in the province of Málaga and Andalusia". 

The team is currently made up of three technicians from the Historical Heritage Department of the Mijas Town Hall, two archaeologists, a restorer and, once the university course begins, students on work experience will join the project and begin their professional training, which will provide them, Piñero points out, "an opportunity for learning and finding work". 

Finally, it should be remembered that several Andalusian universities are collaborating in this research project, as well as the Complutense University of Madrid, and that the archaeological remains have already been visited by students and groups from the municipality on several days organised by the Mijas Town Hall.

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