Archaeology breakthrough as hidden empire discovered in long-lost city | World | News

Archaeologists believe they have accidentally discovered a hidden Roman-era empire in an “unprecedented” breakthrough.

An archaeology team from the University of Cádiz in Spain set out last year hoping to unearth a single Roman-era settlement. However, thanks to groundbreaking radar technology and recent excavation, an incredible 57 Roman Empire-era sites were unearthed in the Sierra de Cádiz region of Spain. 

The 57 separate settlements are believed to have all been connected through trade routes in the region, making up an undiscovered part of the Roman empire, according to the archaeologists. The settlements in the areas would have all been interconnected by the Guadalete River.

The research team, led by Macarena Lara, has said these findings could help them develop a better understanding of the Roman Empire’s presence in the Guadalete River’s valley more than 2,000 years ago – an area of history practically unknown until now.

The team relied heavily on multispectral cameras and LiDAR technology to discover the dozens of Roman-era sites.

LiDAR technologies have led to several groundbreaking discoveries in archaeology in recent years. It sends radar pulses underground to detect any hidden objects. 

Since May, the archaeologists from Cadiz have started on-the-ground excavation into some of the settlements, including a Roman villa of ‘El Canuelo’ in Bornos.

The Romans settled the Guadalete River after they conquered Spain in 264 BC. However, it remains unclear when the newly discovered structures were built.

Lara, a professor of Archaeology at the University of Cádiz, said: “The data we have has allowed us to generate a solid base of archaeological information and documentation to continue with research in the coming years in this environment.

“Our main objective is to continue carrying out excavations and surveys with non-traditional techniques and tools that will be completed with the study of the contexts found, as well as analyse techniques on the documented materials that will allow us to obtain a holistic vision of the Roman settlement and the territory in the area around the Bornos and Arcos de la Frontera reservoirs.”

In 2021, the same university also uncovered a well-preserved ancient Roman bath complex in the sands of a beach in southern Spain.