there are about 90 Roman fish farms along the Mediterranean coast, sheltered by a calm sea. From them, five lie in Spain and four in the Alicante province. Albufereta, El Campello, Calp and Xàbia reveal a two-century-old engineering feat and an economic force linked to their construction.
Initially, their purpose was attributed to fish nurseries and salting venues. They were popularly regarded as royal baths in the 17th and 18th centuries, tied to someone of high rank. Research by MARQ challenged the early theories that these sites were simple nurseries; they were not nurseries for fish and were part of luxury villas as symbols of status.
The Alicante Archaeological Museum has become the hub for a national heritage focus, hosting an international gathering from the 27th to the 29th of the month centered on these structures. Experts from several Mediterranean countries will examine them not just as social or economic artifacts, but as indicators of shifts in relative sea level.
View of the large Xàlbia nurseries. INFORMATION
an opportunity
“Analysis of this aspect was missing,” notes MARQ manager Manuel Olcina, who offers a forward-looking view of the gathering in Alicante. He sees it as a chance to broaden the study of these Roman ruins. The nurseries require a high elevation above sea level to allow water to flow in and out. By studying the water movements, it becomes possible to infer whether the sea level rose, or if tectonic movements on land played a role.
In this sense, these structures could join a broader research project with new parameters, says the archaeologist, who has visited several Alicante nurseries with a team to collect essential data for the workshop.
El Campello Nurseries. INFORMATION
“Let’s work out the geological slope to determine if there were changes in relative sea level during those years,” he explains. From preliminary findings, changes appear to have been minimal in Alicante. Still, all factors must be analyzed, and the colloquium is expected to shed light on the methodology and foster the creation of a dedicated research team.
protection status
Olcina confirms that the coastal nurseries in Alicante remain in relatively good condition. Those at Calpe can be in service today because everything is in its place. About 30 meters of Xàbia’s entrance and exit channels are preserved, along with floodgates. It is impressive, yet it remains uncertain whether this working condition is real, or a result of tectonic movement or a sea-level rise.
The study was carried out in one of the Alicante nurseries.
It was part of the Roman town of Albufereta, at the foot of Lucentum, because they looked for magnificent locations.
The most fragile are those in El Campello, which stands out as the only site with potential commercial use since it is not tied to any town.