Archaeologists excavating the fort of Tossal de La Cala, which is part of a chain of ancient Roman structures about five kilometers from Benidorm, Spain, discovered a 2,000-year-old rock carved with a human face, a large horn-shaped vessel known as a cornucopia and a phallus.
The rock engraving measures 22 inches by 17 inches and was revealed following a period of heavy rain that hit the area in early 2020. A section is believed to be missing in the upper right corner.
Excavations of the fort have been ongoing since 2013, undertaken by archaeologists from the University of Alicante with the aim of better understanding the role and environment of the fort.
The technical director of the excavations, Jesús Moratalla, described the find in a report as “a relief of exceptional historical importance”, given its uniqueness in terms of composition.
The meaning of the sculpture remains a mystery. Phallic imagery was common across Roman sculpture and paintings as they believed it was the embodiment of male power and offered protection. The presence of the horned basket next to the face may indicate the evocation of a deity. The goddess of luck, Fortuna, was frequently depicted holding a cornucopia.
Although it was discovered at the start of the pandemic, news of the find has been largely suppressed as archaeologists on site want to ensure the sculpture is properly protected and can be displayed to the public without being separated from the Tossal site. from La Cala.
The fort sits atop a 300ft hill and was first excavated in the 1940s. Subsequent archaeological excavations, primarily by the University of Alicante, have determined that it was occupied by General Quinto Sertorio during the Sertorian Wars, 80 to 72 BCE, which was fought between Roman renegades and Rome.
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