On 22 September 2026, archaeologists uncovered substantial parts of a theatre in the Roman settlement area of Singilia Barba near Antequera (Málaga) . The team from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid recorded initial measurements of around 52 metres in diameter and describes the structure as exceptionally well preserved. The work is part of the Redescubriendo Singilia Barba project, which has been running since 2025.
The site is in the area of Cortijo del Castillón. Sections of the cavea are now visible, with large, carefully laid sandstone courses and ashlar blocks. According to the excavation team, the quality of the masonry highlights the monumentality of the building. The precise sequence of construction phases, the stratigraphy and a full inventory of finds will be assessed in further campaigns.
The work is being carried out with the authorisation of the Junta de Andalucía. At the end of August 2026, the city of Antequera granted municipal permission for conservation and access works at the site and allocated a budget of 380.099,33 Euro . The aim is to protect the remains, ensure systematic scientific documentation and prepare a management plan. Decisions on gradual public access can only be made on this basis.
Singilia Barba has long been designated as an archaeological area and is protected. The current programme marks the first large-scale intervention in this part of the site for decades. It combines geoarchaeological methods with a systematic record of the built and material culture, and aims to define more precisely the settlement’s role in Roman Bética .
The assessment of the newly uncovered structures as a particularly well-preserved theatre is consistent with the views of the specialists involved and corresponds to architectural features of Roman theatres in Andalusia. However, independent confirmation through complete scholarly publications is still awaited. Forecasts about visitor routes and tourism use therefore remain provisional.
The Universidad Complutense de Madrid is carrying out the excavation in collaboration with the relevant authorities. Further fieldwork, conservation measures and detailed analysis have been announced for the remainder of the project. The city and the Junta de Andalucía stress that protecting the complex takes priority and that any short-term work at the site will depend on the findings of the ongoing documentation.
Editor: Celestina Fuentes (Article created with AI assistance).