“Unearthed Mystery: The 1,800-Year-Old Roman Grave Holding Secrets and a Dagger on His Back!”
However, while many questions about the Roman soldier remain — including his exact cause of death — the discovery of his grave stands as just one find that archaeologists made at the ancient fortress.
Archaeological Discoveries At Cortijo Lobato
Tera S.L.An aerial view of the fortress, which was initially constructed during the Copper Age.
The Copper Age fortress was first constructed nearly 5,000 years ago, possibly to protect crops during a drought. Before it was destroyed by an unknown foe, it had three walls, 25 bastions, three deep defensive ditches, and a single entrance just over two feet wide. Perched atop a hill, it would have offered its defenders a panorama of the surrounding countryside.
Within the fortress itself, archaeologists also found a number of objects — including arrowheads, axes, grinding stones, plates, bowls, and pieces of a loom — which offer hints of the people who once took shelter there.
“The complex system of walls and ditches, built from both stone and earth, demonstrates careful planning that required the coordination of a large group of people,” César M. Pérez, the director of the excavations, explained. “This level of organization suggests the existence of some form of hierarchy or leadership capable of overseeing a project of this scale. The sophistication of the defensive design and the need for a significant workforce reinforce the idea of a structured and well-organized community.”
As such, the excavations of the ancient fortress — dubbed Cortijo Lobato — have offered up multiple fascinating finds. On the one hand is the ancient fortress itself, which has a history that hints at engineering triumphs and terrible losses. On the other is the Roman soldier, who seemingly committed a crime that merited a dishonorable burial.
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