Archaeological Discoveries at Pobla de Ifach in Calp Highlight MARQ Campaign
The summer campaign conducted by the Diputación de Alicante Archaeological Museum, known as MARQ, has yielded new findings at the medieval Pobla de Ifach site in Calp. The study team, led by archaeologist Jose Luis Menendez, confirmed that interventions to the western area of the site opened a path for further exploration. About 30 new sections of the wall were identified, contributing to a deeper understanding of how this portion of the old city was constructed. The City Council announced these advances on Sunday.
Julia Parra, the Vice President for Culture, underscored the ongoing importance of supporting MARQ’s archaeological research. She described the work as an extraordinary residential area of medieval times that helps deepen knowledge of local history. Commenting after a two-year interruption caused by the pandemic, Parra noted that the project has delivered notable contributions to archaeological research, praising the team’s sustained effort.
At Pobla de Ifach, collaboration between MARQ, the Calp City Council, and the Peñón de Ifach Natural Park confirmed the wall’s existence and opened a new section within the western part of the settlement. The findings pave the way for discovering additional medieval structures in the coming years and expanding the urban narrative of the site.
Archaeologists continued the exhumation of a collapsed portion near the West Gate, with cleaning work revealing a completely closed city entrance arch. This discovery supports plans to reconstruct the entrance to Pobla de Ifach as part of a broader effort to enhance the site’s value through studies led by the Department of Architecture of the Provincial Assembly.
As part of the preventive protection program for the area, the cemetery at Ifach was also examined. Five new graves were documented from the 2020 campaign, including three men, an adult woman, and a baby, all found in good condition. The bodies lay supine with arms crossed and without grave goods, though some clothing items were recovered. The count of burials in this part of Ifach now exceeds a hundred, with accompanying funeral coffins also uncovered.
Alongside the archaeological work, the excavation team initiated a program to clear rubble from a nearby hotel ruin on the Pobla site. Funded by the Diputación de Alicante, the intervention targets a 40-foot wall and aims to locate two defense towers and additional structures that would integrate into the medieval urban layout of this population center.
These ongoing efforts reflect a coordinated strategy to expand knowledge of Pobla de Ifach, combining excavation, preservation, and architectural analysis. The collaboration among MARQ, local authorities, and the natural park authority demonstrates a strong commitment to protecting cultural heritage while unlocking new chapters in the history of Calp and its medieval landscape. The research team continues to document findings, develop reconstruction plans, and prepare future campaigns to explore yet unseen layers of the ancient settlement. The work is cited by authorities as a valuable contribution to regional history and a model of shared stewardship for cultural resources.