La Fonteta Ancient Phoenician Port City
La Fonteta is an ancient Phoenician port city located in the town of Guardamar del Segura (Alicante, España).
La Fonteta is an ancient Phoenician port on the right bank of the mouth of the río Segura from VI to VII a. C., whose dimensions seem to configure an urban environment that could well reach eight hectares becoming a major Phoenician city on the Mediterranean.
If we add to its extension and quality of the archaeological record the special state of preservation favored by cover sands, certainly before we face one of the best Phoenician cities of the eighth and seventh centuries. C., outperforming many traditional centers of the Phoenician civilization in the West and at the place of origin.
Detection of metallurgical areas in La Fonteta opens extraordinary expectations for assessment and explanation of the beginnings of the steel industry in the early history of the Western Mediterranean. Definitely one of the most complete sets of metallurgical western Phoenician world, coming to complement the information, rather meager, of other Phoenician centers of the Mediterranean coast.
The importance of this Guardamarenco site lies, first, on the existence in it of a huge fortification wall, a scarce element in the other Phoenician sites in the Iberian Peninsula. Second, remains of an ancient metallurgical activity have been found, demonstrating the special enclave of La Fonteta. And finally, on the high degree of conservation of archaeological remains because they were buried in fine sand.
Among the material found there is a large repertoire of Phoenician typological pottery: vases, plates, red polished lamps. Note the appearance of archaic Greek pottery, and ritual objects such as ostrich eggs, ivory, scarabs, etc. The appearance of architectural elements reused in the wall, shows the existence of a temple or shrine in the environment.
References