The discovery took place in the area known as Camino de los Romanos, where intense rainfall last February caused a landslide, uncovering a “nest of milestones” on what was once the Via Augusta, a major communication artery of Roman Hispania connecting Cádiz with the Pyrenees.
Initially, two milestones were found: one made of sandstone, 2.65 meters high, and another 0.93 meters high, both seemingly without visible inscriptions. These pieces were moved to a secure location for study, given their importance to Andalusian historical heritage. However, a third milestone remained partially buried at the same spot, awaiting ground settlement and the necessary authorizations for its extraction. Days later, when archaeologists from the Junta de Andalucía returned to retrieve it, they found the piece had disappeared.
Following the corresponding report, investigations were launched, leading to the location of the missing milestone in the possession of a local family. They voluntarily handed it over upon learning of the interest in its recovery, apparently unaware of its historical significance.
Its reading, transcription, and translation by specialists in Roman epigraphy from the University of Jaén will allow its content to be precisely determined, which could include not only the distance in miles to a city or relevant point, but also references to the authorities responsible for the construction or repair of the road, as well as other data of historical interest.
According to archaeologists, the recovered milestone, measuring 0.97 meters in height and 35 centimeters in diameter, features a unique incised inscription. Its study by Roman epigraphy specialists at the University of Jaén is expected to reveal its content, potentially providing data on distances, road authorities, or other significant historical information. The recovery has been reported to both the Environmental Prosecutor's Office and the Cultural Heritage Service of the Junta de Andalucía.
Milestones were stone columns, typically cylindrical, placed alongside Roman roads to indicate distances in Roman miles or notable points. In this instance, the inscription might refer to the Arch of Augustus, recently discovered in Mengíbar, near the Guadalquivir River, which marked the boundary between the Roman provinces of Baetica and Tarraconensis.
