Madrid, Spain – Catalonia has experienced one of its worst droughts in years in recent months. This drought has led to a significant drop in water levels in dams and reservoirs. It has also revealed the remains of an ancient church building that had been submerged for decades.
medieval church
Initial estimates suggest the discovered church is about a thousand years old. It was also part of an ancient historical village that flourished in the Middle Ages before later disappearing underwater.
A village submerged by a water project during Franco’s era
The story of the site’s flooding dates back to the mid-20th century, during the rule of Spanish dictator Francisco Franco. At that time, dams and water projects were built, leading to the flooding of entire villages, including the village that housed this church.
Growing archaeological interest in the site
The discovery of the church remains sparked the interest of archaeologists. They began documenting the site and studying its features, attempting to reconstruct the history of the area before it was submerged.
Drought reveals what water has hidden for decades
Experts believe that climate change and recurring droughts may contribute to uncovering more submerged archaeological sites, thus opening the door to rediscovering parts of Spain’s forgotten history.
