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A thousand native trees are transforming two historic sites in Caravaca de la Cruz, creating an unusual fusion of environmental restoration and archaeological preservation.

 

Las Tosquillas in Barranda and Cerro de las Fuentes in Archivel, both home to significant Roman ruins, are being reforested as part of an ambitious project that connects natural landscapes with ancient history.

 

The project comes at a critical time for the Region of Murcia's forests. Severe drought over the past two years has killed nearly 1.3 million trees, with 29,578 hectares of forest damaged and the number still rising.

 

While drought is the main culprit, there is growing concern that tree-boring beetles may soon take advantage of the weakened landscape. This reforestation effort aims to offer a practical response to these environmental challenges while simultaneously protecting important cultural sites.

 

The two chosen locations are the most populated districts in the Caravaca de la Cruz municipality. Both areas contain natural springs alongside significant Roman archaeological sites, which the new plantings will eventually connect through green corridors.

 

Mayor José Francisco García and Environmental Councillor Ana Belén Martínez recently toured both sites with municipal technicians to assess progress on the restoration work. The projects focus on three main goals: preserving the natural environment, improving accessibility for visitors and highlighting the historical and archaeological significance of these locations.

 

Las Tosquillas received close to €60,000 in funding, while Cerro de las Fuentes received more than €33,000. These amounts come from the ‘Camino a Caravaca’ Tourism Sustainability Plan, which operates with €5 million from European Next Generation funds through Spain's National Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan.

 

Las Tosquillas has already undergone significant changes. Workers demolished the existing barbecue pits located under the pine forests due to the environmental risks they posed during the scorching summers.

 

The land slopes were reshaped to support new plantings and crews cleared dead trees from throughout the area. More than 400 native tree and shrub specimens were planted across the site and along the slope connecting to the La Cabezuela archaeological site.

 

Tables previously located at the hilltop were moved to the access area for better environmental protection. Two benches and a wooden pergola were installed at the viewing platform that links Las Tosquillas with the Cabezuela site. The path connecting the car park to the main site was also completely renovated.

 

Over at Cerro de las Fuentes in Archivel, workers reconditioned slopes to facilitate reforestation and planted more than 500 native trees and shrubs, each with individual irrigation systems and protective barriers. Like Las Tosquillas, this site now includes a wooden storage container in the parking area and will soon feature benches and a wooden pergola in a designated rest area.

 

The archaeological significance of both locations adds substantial value to the restoration project. Cerro de la Fuente in Archivel and La Cabezuela in Barranda represent important examples of Roman military architecture from the late 1st century BC. These sites are directly connected to the civil war between Julius Caesar and Pompey the Great, making them very significant historical landmarks.

 

Archaeological excavations have revealed even older human presence in these areas. Bronze Age remains and artefacts from the Argaric culture demonstrate that these locations have supported human activity for thousands of years.

 

For more local news, events and visiting information go to the home page of Caravaca Today

 

Images: Ayuntamiento de Caravaca de la Cruz