Caravaca de la Cruz, Archaeological Museum Museo Arqueológico municipal de la Soledad

The Museo Arquelogico de la Soledad in Caravaca de la Cruz

The Region of Murcia has an extraordinary history and pre-history, with rich archaeological remains at over 2,000 sites dating back to the earliest dawn of the existence of humans.

The Caravaca de la Cruz municipality has a number of important sites, spanning prehistory and all of the principal cultures which contributed to the unique constitution of the Murcia Region, and the municipal archaeological museum contains a representative collection of the different cultures which have inhabited this area. Click to read the History of Caravaca de la Cruz

The museum is located within the structure of the former Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Soledad and is a simple, but elegant church; 9 soaring vaulted ceilings are supported on a structure of 4 central columns branching out to 12 half columns and 12 full columns, braced around the central open area.

The church itself is on the site of the oldest church in Caravaca, although what can be seen today was built in the 16^th century: the date of 1557 was found "graffitied" inside a ventilation chamber during restoration works just a few years ago. The building lay inside the walled structure of the town, an 875-metre long wall protecting the homes of the inhabitants, with the 12^th century fortress crowning the hill, safe within a secondary wall.

The museum has a considered collection of exhibits, starting with the important prehistoric sites in the municipality.

One of the most documented sites is that of the Cueva Negra. The site is recognized as one of the five oldest in the Iberian Peninsula, and the fossilized remains show that humans lived here at least 800,000 years ago, placing the period during which the cave was inhabited in the transition period between the Early (or Lower) Pleistocene and Middle Pleistocene.

One of the key features of the Cueva Negra is the presence of fossilized remains of Homo Heidelbergensis, and the fact that all levels excavated down to a depth of 5 metres contain relics shows that the site next to the River Quípar was occupied or at least by humans continuously for an extremely long time.

Caravaca was occupied by early man for thousands of years and in the latter years of prehistory the  Argaric Culture and then the Iberians were well represented in the area.

There was a significant Iberian presence six centuries before the birth of Christ, and there is a particularly beautiful piece of work in the museum dating from that time, called "El Domador de Caballos". This carved representation of a man breaking in horses is thought to have been positioned to invoke the protection of the gods over the horses used by the tribe, which were highly prized and valuable assets, denoting the location of land dedicated to their use.

Another case holds an interesting collection of offerings made to the gods by the Iberians, known as exvotos, intimate and personal little gifts to plead for favours or appease for acts committed and the museum holds a good collection of Iberian burial goods, as well as trade goods.

The Roman occupation slowly "Romanised" the inhabitants of this area and the museum contains a number of artifacts relating to the period of Roman activities. Take particular note of the Roman  "Antefijas". These are decorated plates covering the ends of a run of tiles on a roof, filling in the end of the run to prevent birds or mice destroying the roof, but apart from their practical use they are also decorated with faces or figures.

There is also a "threshold stone", a Roman gravestone, which was excavated from one of the most important sites in the area, the Estrecho de las Cuevas de la Encarnacion.

Other exhibits include a timeline which helps to explain the cultures of some of the people who inhabited the region and show where they fitted into the overall scheme of things, and also the boards explaining the processes which turned mined ores into usable materials, how olives were pressed and ceramics made.

Practicalities of visiting the Archaeological Museum, Caravaca de la Cruz

Disabled/ Limited mobility access

This museum is not the easiest place for those in a wheelchair to visit, as the entrance is via steps, with the entrance up a fairly steep street, with sets of stairs. something which is generally unavoidable in hilltop towns. However, once inside, it's all on one level.

Opening hours

During the 2017 Holy Year:

Monday to Saturday 10:00 to 14:00 and 16:00 to 19:00

Sundays 10:00 to 14:00

Entrance Fees

2 euros standard

1 euro under 14s and pensioners. 

Groups of 15 upwards may request a guided tour in English by prior arrangement. 

Call the tourist office on 968 70 24 24.

Address:

Museo Arqueológico de Caravaca de la Cruz,

Museo de la Soledad, 

Cuesta del Santuario,

30400 Caravaca de la Cruz (Región de Murcia).

The museum is located on the hill leading up to the Basilica and is thus on the main pilgrimage route of Caravaca.