Agents from the Nature Protection Service (SEPRONA) of the Civil Guard in La Rioja have investigated a 53-year-old man, resident in Aldeanueva de Ebro, as the alleged perpetrator of a crime against historical heritage, after causing serious damage to the Roman archaeological site ‘La Torrecilla’, located in the municipality of Calahorra.
The works carried out by the person involved have seriously altered and deteriorated the site, which is considered damage, injury or impairment to the Archaeological Heritage. This impact is aggravated by having been carried out within an area delimited as an Asset of Cultural Interest (BIC), with the consequent irreparable loss of historical information on materials that could have been part of various structures from the Roman era.
This intervention is part of the services that SEPRONA develops in La Rioja to combat theft and looting in archaeological sites and protect historical heritage. Agents from the Autol patrol detected the execution of works on several plots of industrial estate 47 of Calahorra, within the “La Torrecilla” site. These works, which consisted of clearing the land for planting vineyards and installing an irrigation system, caused serious damage to archaeological pieces, such as common pottery, remains of adobes, ashlars, jars and sigillatas.
After identifying the person responsible, it was found that he did not have the necessary authorizations to carry out the works, which should have been issued by the Calahorra City Council and the Department of Culture of the Government of La Rioja. Given this situation, the General Directorate of Culture was notified, through the Service for the Conservation and Promotion of Historical-Artistic Heritage.
Archaeological technicians went to the site to verify and evaluate the damage caused by the earth movements, which affected practically the entire surface of the site. Experts confirmed significant damage to numerous ceramic fragments, with a chronology ranging from the Celtiberian to the late Roman era.
The Ministry will carry out archaeological surveys to determine exactly the percentage of the site destroyed and what is preserved, as well as to evaluate the economic and cultural impact caused by the research. The police proceedings have been sent to the judicial authority and the Environmental Prosecutor’s Office.
Article 323 of the Penal Code states that these actions can be punished with a prison sentence of six months to three years or a fine of 12 to 24 months for anyone who causes damage to property of historical, artistic, scientific, cultural or monumental value, or in archaeological, terrestrial or underwater sites. Acts of plunder in the latter will be punished with the same penalty.
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