Tourists stunned as 2,000-year-old Roman marble head found in Alicante

A marble head dating to the High Imperial Roman period was discovered during regeneration work on Alicante’s Almadraba beach. Experts determined the head dates to the first or second century and may represent the goddess Venus. The white marble sculpture is in near-perfect condition, with only minor damage to the nose. Alicante’s council described it as a Roman head of great artistic quality and excellent preservation. Archaeologists consider it among the most substantial Roman-era finds in Alicante. Regeneration work is paused while a full excavation is carried out at a site designated as an archaeological area for over 15 years due to remains of a Roman villa linked to Lucentum. The head measures 22.22 cm high and 19.78 cm wide, and tests will be conducted to confirm its original placement and context.

"Workmen who stumbled across the lump of marble were left amazed when experts were called to the scene, who later revealed the head dates back to the High Imperial Roman period in the first or second century. The white marble head, which archaeologists say may possibly represent the goddess Venus, is still in near-perfect condition, aside from minor damage to the nose. Its cultural and historical value is said to be incalculable."

"Alicante council describes the bust as 'a Roman head of great artistic quality and in excellent state of preservation', while archaeologists already consider it one of the most substantial finds in Alicante from the Roman era. Councillor for culture, Nayma Beldjilali, added: 'We could be talking about one of the most important Roman sculpture finds in the history of Alicante and the province.'"

"Regeneration work at La Almadraba beach is currently being put on hold while a full excavation is carried out. The site has been designated as an archaeological area for over 15 years after the remains of a Roman villa linked to Lucentum was discovered in 2009. Speaking of the villa, Mr Beldjilali added: 'It must have been the home of some prominent Roman citizen.'"

"As for the newly-discovered head, which measures 22.22 centimetres high and 19.78 wide, experts believe it could have once been placed on a base in Roman patrician houses - though tests are set to be carried out to confirm this. José Manuel Pérez Burgos, head of integral heritage, said: 'The bust presents a hairstyle of Hellenistic influence, with wavy hair pulled back with a parting in the middle following the idealised model of representations of divinities such as the Greek Aphrodite or the Roman V"

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