The UB opens the doors of its archaeological site in the Raval with ArqueUB
Once again, this July, citizens will be able to visit the archaeological site of the University of Barcelona in the Raval neighbourhood as part of the dissemination project ArqueUB. This is an opportunity to learn about the excavations in the ancient workshop of the important 19th century potter Antoni Tarrés, whose works are preserved in several buildings in Barcelona.
Once again, this July, citizens will be able to visit the archaeological site of the University of Barcelona in the Raval neighbourhood as part of the dissemination project ArqueUB. This is an opportunity to learn about the excavations in the ancient workshop of the important 19th century potter Antoni Tarrés, whose works are preserved in several buildings in Barcelona.
The pedestrians that walk around in front o the site, located in the same Faculty of Geography and History of the UB, can see two large canvases with texts and illustrations about the archaeological value of the site and photographs of the pieces that have been found. The guided tours of the site, free and open to the general public, will take place on 7, 14 and 21 July. Registration in advance is required.
ArqueUB is also giving high school students the chance to spend a week at the site and get closer to the world of archaeology. Specifically, the site will host four pre-university students. Those interested can apply filling this form. The selected pre-university students will carry out tasks related to the excavations under the supervision of teaching staff and students of the bachelor’s degree in Archaeology.
The first factory of terracotta sculptural decoration in Barcelona
Having a site like this in the spaces of the Faculty allows the students of Archaeology to conduct their practical lessons in the centre they study. This is possible thanks to an agreement between the University and the Barcelona City Council, the owner of the space.
The site in Raval keeps the remains of the old workshop of Antoni Tarrés, a potter whose more than sixty works can be seen today in different buildings around Barcelona. Although he was dedicated to producing bricks, pots, ornaments for facades or ceramic objects, Tarrés’ great talent was the sculptural decoration in terracotta. His workshop became the first factory to produce these ornamental elements to be applied to the city’s architecture. The site also contains construction phases dating prior to the workshop of Tarrés, although excavations of these other periods must be carried out with care so as not to damage the remains of the 19th century workshop. The emeritus professor of the Faculty of Geography and History Josep Maria Gurt explains that this year the work will continue in “the area where the mills were to crush the clay, from which came the paste to make pieces, and to grind the mineral elements that formed the glazes”.
The archeological site in Raval is one of the different areas where the UB archaeology students can carry out their compulsory internship. The ArqueUB project is jointly organized by the Scientific Culture and Innovation Unit (UCC+I) of the UB and the Department of History and Archaeology of the Faculty of Geography and History of the UB, and it has the support of the Barcelona City Council.