Recovering the memory of Aurora Picornell
The conference, to be presented by Gemma Torres, lecturer at the Department of History and Archaeology, Santiago Riera, head of studies of the bachelor’s degree in Archaeology, will include the participation of four experts that took part in the study of the biography and identification of Aurora Picornell: Queralt Solé, lecturer of Contemporary History at the University of Barcelona; David Ginard, lecturer of Contemporary History at the University of Balearic Islands; Jordi Ramos, archaeologist at the Association of Technicians for Cultural and Social Research (Atics), and Almudena García-Rubio, anthropologist at the Science Society Aranzadi, in the Basque Country.
The conference, to be presented by Gemma Torres, lecturer at the Department of History and Archaeology, Santiago Riera, head of studies of the bachelor’s degree in Archaeology, will include the participation of four experts that took part in the study of the biography and identification of Aurora Picornell: Queralt Solé, lecturer of Contemporary History at the University of Barcelona; David Ginard, lecturer of Contemporary History at the University of Balearic Islands; Jordi Ramos, archaeologist at the Association of Technicians for Cultural and Social Research (Atics), and Almudena García-Rubio, anthropologist at the Science Society Aranzadi, in the Basque Country.
This conference on Aurora Picornell proposes to delve deeper into the methodological aspects of research in graves and the recovery and identification of people killed during the Civil War and the dictatorship. The aim is to convey to students the value of these studies and the necessarily interdisciplinary work of these researches, which are characterized by great academic, political and emotional complexity.
Aurora Picornell (1912-1937) was an important Majorcan political and social activist of the beginning of the 20th century. Born in Palma, at a young age she became involved in feminist, secularist and labor initiatives. After the proclamation of the Second Republic, she joined the Communist Party of Spain and soon became the most well-known figure of this organization in Majorca for his charisma and ability to work and for his close political collaboration with his partner, the agent of the Tercera Internacional Heriberto Quiñones González.
When the fascist revolt began, she was imprisoned by the rebel authorities of the island. She was taken out of prison to be murdered without trial on January 5, 1937. Her memory was deliberately diluted and, until a few years ago, some memory was preserved that her body had been buried in Porreres cemetery. However, in 2022, several graves were exhumed in the old cemetery of Son Coletes, in Manacor, where the remains of Aurora Picornell were finally located along with those of four other women who were killed with her. The remains of the activist have been identified by DNA, and his body was recently handed over to his relatives in an emotional ceremony in Mallorca.
Multimedia gallery
Aurora Picornell.
