Remains of ancient Islamic bridge unearthed in Palma

THE archaeological excavations underway in Avenida Antoni Maura in Palma, where the Town Council plan to build a multi-storey carpark, has brought to light the remains of what could have been one of the five Islamic bridges which were used in the 10th century to cross Sa Riera. The find was uncovered some weeks ago, and although it has not been confirmed by any official source, Guillermo Rossello Bordoy, a top specialist on the Islamic period, was able to make an on the spot evaluation of the structure. According to the professional opinion of the historian, the remains which have been unearthed “more or less in the centre of the excavation”, would appear to be a shallow rectangular column attached to the face of a wall of “between 2, and 2.5 metres in length. This could have formed part of the most southerly bridge of the five which crossed the bed of the Riera between the end of the 10th and beginning of the 11th centuries. After having made comparisons with other remains throughout the mainland of Spain, it was the construction technique of the period, using rope and burning wood, which enabled the historian to attribute the structure to this period. Although Rossello Bordoy acknowledged that the remains of the wall are not in good condition, he asserted “Majorca cannot boast too many testaments to its Islamic past, and even less from the 10th century. “We have no choice, therefore,” he continued, “but to value the find as a complement to a series of important discoveries made during the excavation directed by Rafael Duratti.” Nevertheless, last week, the historian had publicly denounced the lack of government support for the protection of national heritage.
The Majorcan Socialist Party has called for the Balearic University to be called in to supervise all such investigations on building sites.