The works on La Rambla reveal a section of almost 50 meters from the medieval wall of the 14th century

The excavated sector at the height of Santa Mònica, in addition to the wall, includes a pentagonal tower

The excavations reveal medieval floods and provide information about the daily life of medieval Barcelona

Once the work is finished, they will have allowed documenting up to about 100 meters of the wall along La Rambla

Archaeological works linked to the redevelopment of La Rambla have uncovered a section of 44.88 meters of the 14th-century wall, with a maximum width of 2.90 meters and a pentagonal tower measuring 8.32 by 4.21 meters. The intervention, which is taking place in the sector of La Rambla Santa Mònica, is led by archaeologist Irene Cruz, from the company Global Geomàtica. BIMSA is carrying out the work.

The works began in mid-July with the opening of the central area of the promenade and have combined shallow mechanical excavations with manual test pits to study the foundations of the wall and the archaeological stratigraphy attached to it. The goal is twofold: to obtain a complete documentation of the structures and, at the same time, to better understand how life was lived and transformed in this frontier space of the medieval city.

In the external test pit, at a depth of 3.5 meters, layers related to ancient floods have been identified, with accumulations of soil, stones, and ceramics dragged by water. These remains confirm the functioning of the wall as a defensive system linked to a moat and also provide information about the natural dynamics of the torrent that ran through this part of the city. On the interior side, on the other hand, levels from the 16th century have been documented, shedding light on the daily life of medieval and modern Barcelona. A curious and unusual find stands out in this area: the remains of a small donkey, buried surrounded by a large number of bronze needles.

The excavations have also revealed the use of a mortar cordon to seal the joints between the wall stones. This construction detail indicates a clear intention to strengthen the structure against external agents such as floods, a phenomenon well documented in La Rambla in medieval times. At the same time, in the most southern part of the excavation area, a large semicircular stone and mortar structure, about 3.5 meters long, has appeared, matching the plans of the initial urbanization of La Rambla in the early 19th century. Everything indicates that this is the head of an element that marked the beginning of the promenade, built after 1774 and before 1823.

La Rambla continues to provide valuable information about the city's history

This ensemble adds to other findings made within the scope of the redevelopment project, such as the remains of the old Estudi General de Barcelona (16th-18th centuries), the Real Fundición de Artillería de Bronce (16th century), and the clean water canal system from the 18th century. In the case of the wall, the latest excavations confirm the importance of this defensive section, built in the mid-14th century and active only for a few decades until the city erected the Raval wall at the end of the same century.

Throughout the route of La Rambla, other remains of this system had already been documented, such as sections of the Teatre square?where a section of about 15 meters and a tower are preserved?and various gates and foundations. The current intervention allows for extensive excavation for the first time providing a complete and continuous image of this important heritage element.

In the next two months, once the first sector is documented and covered, a second stretch of about 50 meters will be opened to complete the documentation. Both sets will add up to nearly a hundred meters of medieval wall recorded in the heart of the promenade of La Rambla, a unique opportunity to delve into urban history and the city's memory.