Story By: Lee Bullen, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Newsflash
An 18th-century fortified tower has been discovered after it was forgotten under a thick covering of ivy that had completely covered it for years.
The unusual discovery took place during pruning and landscaping works in Blanco Encalada in the commune of Talcahuano in the Biobio Region of central Chile.
Municipal workers discovered the brick fort while trimming back the ivy covering it.
Mayor Henry Campos told the newspaper La Estrella: “It was confirmed that a tower was found underneath a large plant that is very old. We still need to verify who built it and why.”
Arts and culture official Carolina Tapia announced that experts will study the newly-found tower, and announce plans for its heritage protection soon.
According to a report by TVU, Pedro Andrade, archaeologist and professor at the University of Concepcion, also suggest that the fortified tower could be part of a “series of forts build in the area at the end of the 18th century”.
The research continues.
Netizen ‘Matilde Barriga Sandoval’ commented: “It resembles the watchtowers built around the time of the Conquest. It is very similar to those in Valdivia and surroundings.”
‘Olaf Christiansen’ said: “So sad that it has been lost under the vegetation all this time.”
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