friday, 04 of october de 2013 Back to news
A research team discovered the remains of a Spanish Civil War soldier at an archaeological site of the Ebro

Diari de Guerra/War Diary (Andreu Caralt).-04/10/2013.-A team of archaeologists working at a site in the municipality of Aldover (Ebro, Catalonia ) discovered a few days ago the remains, in a very good condition, of a Spanish Civil War soldier. Next to the body were found hand grenades and ammunition, among other objects.

The archaeologists of the research group of Rovira i Virgili University ( URV ) was conducting an intervention on the site called the Tossals between 9 and 25 September when the soldier found in recumbent position .

Once discovered the remains, the team made ​​contact with the relevant authorities. Guardia Civil agents took charge of the explosive devices found at the scene.

To proceed with the exhumation and subsequent study of the remains, the team reported the find to the Archaeological Service of the Catalonia Government and General Memory, Peace and Human Rights Department of the same government.

Once exhumed following the Catalan legislation in force, the remains are deposited in the Faculty of Arts at the URV where professor, Carlos Lorenzo , made ​​relevant anthropological studies .

The university will guard the remains until the Generalitat, once known scientific reports and a court decision indicating their final destination, probably the Memorial of Camposines ( La Fatarella, Catalonia )

On the basis of the place where the body was located in the right margin of the Ebro River , the soldier could be either armies. On the one hand, the Republican army units which defending the Aragon front, fought in this area of ​​Baix Ebre region in April 1938 during the defeat that culminated with the total conquest of the right margin of the river by Franco's army. From then until January 1939, the Ebro river became war front. During these months, there was a retail crossfire on both banks of the river. In any case, in Aldover there was no combat in the context of the Battle of the Ebro.

Memorial of the Camposines custody human remains discovered not only in the old front of the battle of the Ebro but also in other parts of the Ebro and south of the Lleida where were there fighting.