In the lands of the municipality of Ubrique in Cadiz (south of Spain), a team of archaeologists from the University of Granada has confirmed hypotheses put forth more than two centuries ago, bringing to light the Roman forum of the ancient city of Ocuri.

The excavations, the result of a collaboration between the University of Granada and the City Council of Ubrique, have brought together a large group of researchers, students, and volunteers, all united by a shared passion for unraveling the mysteries of the past.

The primary goal of this archaeological endeavor was to corroborate a bold hypothesis proposed at the end of the 18th century by the local scholar Juan Vegazo, who, with an intuition bordering on the prophetic, suggested that the central terrace of the hill popularly known as “de la Mora” housed the remains of the ancient forum of the Roman city.

Archaeologists find the Roman Forum of the city of Ocuri
Archaeologists find the Roman Forum of the city of Ocuri. Credit: University of Granada

At the start of the Granada expedition, the scene before the archaeologists was, at the very least, modest: barely a perimeter wall, which was presumed to be the central square, about one meter high and roughly 16 meters long. However, what seemed like an unpromising start soon turned into the prelude to a discovery that has surpassed all expectations.

The meticulous archaeological work carried out has not only confirmed Vegazo’s hypothesis but also revealed a series of architectural elements that outline the profile of large-scale and undeniably public buildings, dated to the early Imperial period.

Among the most notable findings, and pending a more thorough study, researchers have identified a monumental altar, accompanied by various remains of architectural decoration, including column bases and shafts. These elements have been linked to other scattered evidence throughout the city, such as statue pedestals and column fragments, thus composing a historical puzzle of great complexity and richness.

Remains of architectural decoration, including bases and column shafts, discovered in Ocuri.
Remains of architectural decoration, including bases and column shafts, discovered in Ocuri. Credit: University of Granada

Meanwhile, the team has undertaken a re-study of several emerging structures at the site, which has helped define a space with a strong symbolic significance associated with Roman syncretic religious practices, with a particular emphasis on those related to water. This finding underscores the importance of the aquatic element in the worldview and rituals of ancient Rome and how these beliefs intertwined with pre-existing local traditions.

One of the most significant aspects of the excavation has been the confirmation of a continuous occupation of the site until the end of the 4th century AD, a revelation that considerably extends the previously established timeframe for the city of Ocuri. This prolonged habitation of the site has been evidenced by the coins found, among which a particularly exciting discovery stands out: the first Christian iconographic representation found at the site, materialized in a coin bearing a Chi-Rho.

In addition to the numismatic evidence, ceramics from North Africa have been recovered that reinforce the theory of an extended occupation of the site and, more importantly, shed new light on the trade routes of the time.

Archaeologists working at Ocuri
Archaeologists working at Ocuri. Credit: University of Granada

These ceramic finds suggest intense commercial activity closely linked with the Campo de Gibraltar, revealing a network of exchanges that connected this region of the southern peninsula with North Africa and, by extension, the entire Mediterranean.

The surprises are not limited to the Roman period. Archaeologists have also identified the foundations of what could be a defensive construction from the medieval period. This structure, strategically located, would have maintained visual contact with other fortifications in the vicinity, forming part of a complex system of surveillance and control in this strategic area of the Gaditanian mountains.

The excavations on the hill of La Mora have outlined a fundamental space for understanding the arrival and establishment of Rome in the south of the Iberian Peninsula, and the process of cultural hybridization between the Roman colonizers and the populations already settled in the territory.

SOURCES

Universidad de Granada

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