Story By: Jonathan Macias, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Central European News 

Archaeologists have found the foundations of a village believed to have disappeared in the 11th century which was described in a famous Spanish epic poem and taken from the Moors.

The archaeological excavation is located in a natural park called La Mora Encantada in the municipality of Ateca in the province of Zaragoza in the autonomous community of Aragon in north-eastern Spain

The foundation is reportedly part of the disappeared village of Alcocer which was mentioned in one of the most significant medieval Spanish epic poems, the anonymous ‘El Cantar de Mio Cid’.

The village is believed to have disappeared after it was conquered by Spanish popular folk-hero and national icon El Cid, a Castilian knight and warlord in medieval Spain who fought against the Moors.

Reports said that archaeologists have also discovered pottery and kitchen tools along with the foundations that date back to the 11th century.

The finding is part of an excavation project funded by the local government that started in November.

Local historian Francisco Martinez told local media: “The excavation lets us solve a question that had been open for decades.

“The confirmation that Alcoce is in the park of La Mora Encantada make us believe that El Cid travelled through a route here in the area called El Jalon to go to Barcelona”

Historians believe El Cid was exiled by the Spanish king Alfonso in 1080 after nobles turned the monarch against the knight through court intrigue.

The archaeological study points to the thesis that the village was burnt and abandoned after it was conquered from the Moors by El Cid, as is described in the epic poem.

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