Important discovery in Alcoi
A group of specialists from the Polytechnic University of Valencia, together with the company ARPA Patrimony, has made a significant discovery. After months of arduous research using cutting-edge geolocation technologies, they managed to identify the exact place where the first stone of the emblematic Viaducte Building was placed. In this aging location, a chest was also found containing a copy of the press dated April 23, 1923 and coins from that time.
The search for the first stone
The challenge faced by the researchers was to find the room where the chest was deposited. However, the chest and its contents remain absent. It is relevant to note that nearly seven years passed from the laying of the first stone to the beginning of work on the current building of the Universitat Politècnica de València. This makes the loss or theft of the chest more than viable possibilities.
Subject matter experts
The research team was made up of renowned international experts, who have an extensive resume of successful projects, among which the iconic Altamira caves, the Atapuerca sites, the Valencia Cathedral and the search for the remains of García Lorca stand out. One of the main researchers, Fernando Buchón, is an academic from the Department of Cartographic Engineering, Geodesy and Photogrammetry of the Universitat Politècnica de València. Buchón was responsible for making three-dimensional scans of both the façade and the interior of the building, in addition to analyzing photographs and film material by Armand Guerra, corresponding to the same year as the laying of the first stone.
Exploration techniques
The technique of ground-penetrating radar was also used, directed by Francisco García, professor at the Higher Technical School of Geodetic, Cartographic and Topographic Engineering at the Polytechnic University of Valencia. This method allowed a careful examination of the area of the building where the first stone could be found, both on the surface of the exterior pavement and in the current gymnasium. According to Fernando Buchón, the combination of these innovative techniques made it easier to identify the best point to excavate, resulting in the discovery next to the wall of the gymnasium.
A legacy for the Alcoi campus
The arduous research work has led the Alcoi campus of the Universitat Politècnica de València to decide to create a commemorative space in the exact location of the discovery. Pau Bernabéu, director of the campus, announced that the area will be cleaned and the area where the lead box was located will be exposed. In addition, it is planned to install a showcase that displays documentation related to the laying of the first stone, the celebration of its centenary and the investigative process carried out.
A museum in the future
These elements will be part of a future museum on the Alcoi campus, which will also contain memories of important historical figures, such as Mayor Evaristo Botella or the poet Joan Valls, who combined their history with the old cells during turbulent periods.
