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ARCHIVED - Renewed hopes of opening Cueva Victoria archaeological site to the public
Cartagena Council's long-term plan to open the caves of the Victoria complex to the public take a step closer to becoming a reality
The museumisation of Cartagena's Cueva Victoria archaeological site so that it can be opened up and enjoyed by the public has taken a step forward.
Last summer, a palaeontological excavation project was carried out by a team of archaeologists from the University of Barcelona to prepare remains already uncovered for the conversion of parts of the site into an attraction for public visits.
And now Cartagena's Department of Archaeological Heritage has contracted the drafting of the project for the interior and exterior adaptation of the Victoria complex.
"It involves drawing up plans for the museumisation of Cueva Victoria and includes the fitting out of two entrances and, above all, the design and adaptation of the route that people will take when they visit with all the necessary resources to equip it with the most modern systems available," explained the Deputy Mayor, Ana Belén Castejón.
The contract will also include improvements to the electrics, lighting, voice and data network, a security system, as well as increased control of humidity and temperature conditions.
Once the drafting has been completed, the project will be sent to the regional government and the actual work can begin, for which Cartagena City Council plans to allocate 300,000 euros in a multi-annual budget.
The caves in the Victoria complex were formed by a geological movement almost 3.5 million years ago, and during the two million years that followed, they filled with accumulated silt washed in by the rain, which created a unique collection of fossils. Over the last 30 years, palaeontologists have uncovered the remains of hyenas, elephants, horses, dolphins and bird species.
But their efforts sparked interest from scientists worldwide when human remains from the same period 1.2 million years ago were discovered.
The company in charge of drawing up the plans is Tecminsa, which has extensive experience both in terms of musealisation and the adaptation of sites of this type.
The company manages the Geoda de Pulpí and Mina Rica in Andalucía, and has also worked on the Cuevas de Fuentes de León in Badajoz, along with the Cuevas del Rey and Solapón in Gran Canaria.
Images: Ayuntamiento de Cartagena
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