The Mayor of Motril, Luisa García Chamorro, has inaugurated the Plaza de los Aljibes in the Varadero (Port) area.

She pointed out that it had been the intention of the Town Council to build social housing on the plot, however, when excavation work began they soon found archeological remains so all work was stopped immediately.

A commission was set up and experts determined that it was an aljibe (Muslim-period name for a water cistern) so, instead, work commenced on protecting the remains.

However, she pointed out, although under the present financial circumstances it has been impossible to restore the cistern, they have been able to “preserve” it for future generations.

The municipal archeologist, José Luis Sánchez Siles, has confirmed that the cistern and a section of wall date back probably to the 18th Century.

The budget spent on this archeological work was 80.000 euros.

(News: Motril, Costa Tropical, Granada, Andalucia)