50 meters of medieval wall uncovered on Barcelona's Rambla

BarcelonaThe redevelopment works on La Rambla have exposed almost 50 continuous meters of the 14th-century wall and a pentagonal tower measuring 8 x 4 meters. The wall, in the Santa Mónica sector, measured 2.90 meters wide and the ashlars were lined with lime mortar, a construction reinforcement to avoid the effects of the floods that had already been documented.

The archaeological work will focus on documenting the structure and stratification of the wall to better understand how people lived and how this space, which served as a border in the medieval city, was transformed. On the outside, at a depth of 3.5 meters, remains of ancient floods have been identified, with accumulations of earth, stones, and ceramics, confirming that the wall was linked to a moat. On its inner side, levels dating back to the 16th century have been documented, which explain the daily life of medieval and modern Barcelona. For example, they found a small donkey buried there, surrounded by a large number of bronze needles.

A large semicircular stone and mortar structure, approximately 3.5 meters long, has also been discovered, which matches the plans for the first urban development of La Rambla in the early 19th century. Everything indicates that this is the head of an element that marked the beginning of the promenade, built after 1774 and before 1823.

Other remains have already been documented during the redevelopment of La Rambla. In fact, up to 100 meters of wall will emerge—in sections—which confirms the importance of this defense, built in the mid-14th century and active for only a few decades, until the city built the Raval wall at the end of the same century.