21/09/2026 - Geophysics team travels the Iberian Peninsula on a research campaign
The ERA Arqueologia Geophysics team has set off on an intensive scientific research campaign across the Iberian Peninsula, bringing together science, technology and heritage over 10 days of fieldwork.
During this period, the team is travelling along roads that link different landscapes, cultures and historical periods. From the Celtiberians to the Romans, each site visited holds a unique history — and each is being studied using the most advanced geophysical prospecting methods.
This campaign embodies what best defines 21st-century archaeology: the combination of science, technology and heritage. Every geophysical profile acquired, every hectare surveyed and every anomaly detected will contribute to research projects seeking to answer new questions about ancient landscapes and the societies that inhabited them.
Stage 1 — Borobia (completed)
The first stage of the campaign took place in Borobia (Spain), where the team completed the geophysical survey work as part of a scientific research project. The results revealed promising evidence, suggesting an archaeological site with high potential for future research.
One of the most rewarding moments of this short campaign was the preliminary presentation of the results to the lead archaeologist, the mayor and the local community, demonstrating how non-invasive methodologies can generate new knowledge about archaeological heritage and bring science closer to local communities.
“Seeing the interest and enthusiasm of those who live alongside this heritage reminds us why we do what we do,” the team says.
Stage 2 — La Morterona, Saldaña (Palencia) (completed)
The campaign continued at the La Morterona Archaeological Site in Saldaña (Palencia), one of northern Spain's most important archaeological sites. This vast settlement shows a long sequence of occupation, from the Iron Age — with an important Vaccean/Celtiberian settlement — through to the Roman, Visigothic and medieval periods.
Over the last few days, the team carried out geophysical surveys covering around 7 hectares, contributing to our understanding of the internal layout of this ancient urban centre. Recent studies have revealed part of the urban grid and several buildings, highlighting the scale and complexity of this significant settlement, which covers approximately 200 hectares.
Geophysical surveys help us piece together the city's history, revealing how it has evolved over more than a millennium of human settlement.
Science learnt in the field
But fieldwork is not just about collecting data. During a break, the team visited the extraordinary Villa Romana La Olmeda. For those who interpret geophysical anomaly maps regularly, observing preserved and excavated archaeological structures is a fundamental learning tool — it helps link what we see in the data with the archaeological reality on the ground, improving the quality of future interpretations.
Equally important is the interaction with local archaeologists and researchers. The exchange of experiences, ideas and knowledge is one of the greatest assets of these campaigns, reminding us that archaeology is, above all, a collective effort to understand the past.
Stage 3 — Santa María del Campo and other sites (ongoing)
The journey continues, with stops planned at Santa María del Campo and other sites of great heritage interest, always working side by side with research teams to produce scientific knowledge of the highest standard.