The “Catalan Pompeii” with 2,000 years of history discovered in Tarragona

A team of archaeologists from the Universitat de Barcelona has identified at the Vilar site what was the scene of the first battle fought by the Romans in Catalan territory in 218 BC.

The discovery includes Punic coins, ballista projectiles and evidence of fires in homes, in line with Polybius’s and Livy’s accounts of Hannibal’s campaign and the subsequent Roman victory. According to archaeologist Jaume Noguera, Kissa was not only crucial in the conflict, but also prospered for decades, revealing a city of eight hectares, imposing walls and a population of up to 5,000 inhabitants.

With paved streets, water channels and distinct neighbourhoods, the site offers a unique snapshot of the Iberian world before Romanisation. Valls City Council and the UB are already working on a plan to protect the site and open it to the public, thus establishing this archaeological treasure as an international reference point.