The most important find since excavations started ten years ago

Discovery of lead ornament from 1st century BC in Sanitja

UNEARTHED. The necklace piece is over 2,000 years old

Believed to have belonged to one of the islanders serving in the Roman army as "honderos" (the warriors famed for their use of the sling as a weapon)

C.M.W..Maó

Agroup of students excavating the Roman settlement of Sanitja made an important discovery last week when they unearthed a lead ornament dating back to between 100 and 75 BC. The ornament, which is designed to form part of a necklace and is decorated on one side only, is believed to have belonged to an islander serving in the Roman army. The object is the most significant find made during the ten years of excavations at the site which have helped experts to learn the secrets of the Roman settlement which was established as a base for Quinto Cecilio Metello´s military conquests.

For the last three years groups of students from all over the world have travelled to Menorca to take part in the investigations of the Roman settlement during the summer months. The 12 youngsters currently working at the dig come from places as far afield as Canada, the U.S.A., Australia and Germany.

Menorca became part of the Roman Empire in 123 BC, together with the neighbouring islands of Mallorca and Cabrera. At that time Sanitja was the best natural harbour on the island´s north coast, protected from the strong northerly winds (tramontanas) by a natural breakwater. It was for this reason that the Romans chose the site for the settlement which they constructed on the flat summit of a hill, 15-20 metres above sea level, allowing them to defend the harbour.

The camp covered an area of around 7,540 sq.m. and housed a small detachment of soldiers for approximately 70 years. During this time, locals known as "Honderos Baleáricos" also lived in the camp and were probably trained there. The "honderos" were islanders who specialised in using the sling as a weapon and they were famed far and wide for their skills, serving as mercenaries in the Roman army. The discovery in Monzón, Huesca, of lead balls identical to those found at Sanitja confirms the hypothesis that the "honderos" fought under General Quinto Cecilio Metello during the civil wars of 79 and 76 BC.

The lead ornament is currently on display in the Museu de Menorca, in Maó, under the guardianship of the Island Council.