The Roman baths of Arce, open to the public after a decade of excavations
Euskaraz irakurri: Artziko bainuetxe erromatarrak zabalik daude jendearentzat, hamar urteko indusketa lanen ondoren
The Roman baths of Arce are open to the public from this Wednesdayafter a decade of archaeological excavations and that, in 2023, the team of the Aranzadi Science Societyin collaboration with the Government of Navarra and the Valle de Arce City Council, have carried out consolidation and musealization work.
The purpose of these actions, the Government of Navarra reports in a statement, is to publicize this strategic crossing point, which was located on the Roman road Iter XXXIV and which crossed the Pyrenees in ancient times.
Through information panels and a 3D reconstruction of the building, visitors will be able to learn first-hand about the evolution and transformation of this enclave, which functioned as a road station since the end of the 1st century BC.
In addition, during this year it is planned to carry out activities such as talks and guided tours, which will be held around Holy Week, led by archaeologists from Aranzadi, as well as the publication of a monograph on the hot springs and their archaeological material, currently in phase study.
The musealization and socialization actions of this heritage are integrated into the valley’s regeneration strategy in the fight against depopulation, and are framed, in turn, in a line of research directed by the archaeologist Oihane Mendizabalwhich studies the enclaves that served the Roman road in the Navarrese Pyrenees, among which the enclaves of Arce and Zaldua (Burguete) stand out.
In fact, the Arce hot springs are very similar to those of Donazaharre/Saint-Jean-Le-Vieux, the Roman settlement on the northern slope that is connected through the road that crosses the Ibañeta pass.
The archaeological site of Arce is located at the gates of the Pyrenees, on the banks of the Urrobi River and on the edge of the road that crossed the Pyrenees. It was an ideal place as a stop on the route that linked Caesaraugusta (Zaragoza) and Burdigala (Bordeaux) through the Ibañeta pass.
It consisted of several buildings that could offer services to the road users. At the same time, it functioned as a link for its inhabitants to exchange local products for others that came from all over the Empire.
Source: Eitb
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