/ Town Hall
Tuesday 9th October 2018
THE CALVIÀ CEMETERY COMMON GRAVE EXCAVATIONS BEGIN
A forensic anthropologist and experts in archeology participate in the tasks
The excavation tasks for the opening of Calvià cemetery common grave have begun early this morning within the framework of the Exhumation Plan 2018 of the Government of the Balearic Islands, promoted by the general directorate of Participation and Democratic Memory. The person in charge of the tasks, Almudena García, is a forensic anthropologist and has announced that today, the tasks are based on eliminating the hedges and that for now some loose bones have been found where the old Calvià cemetery was, but this data is not significant at the moment. Two archeologists of the company Aranzadi and three volunteer students of the University of the Balearic Islands who help in archeology, one of them from Calvià, work along with this expert. These exhumation works will last about three weeks, and will be carried out from Monday to Friday.
The mayor of Calvià, Alfonso Rodríguez Badal, and the deputy mayor, Nati Francés, have visited the cemetery to see the first digging tasks. The Calvià researcher, Manel Suárez Salvà, who has carried out most of the previous studies on this common grave, has also witnessed the first earth movements. Those interested in visiting the pit and learning more on the works can go from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. In addition, a detailed explanation of the work carried out during the day will be given every day at 5.30 p.m.
During the last quarter of 1936 and in the middle of the Civil War, the roads of Calvià, the beach of Palmanova and el Caló d'en Pellicer, as well as the cemetery, were locations where multiple murders were carried out - a minimum of 22 documented- not only from Calvià, also men from other villages and a woman. Their names are: Ateu Martí, Ignasi Picornell, Francesc Bosch, Cristòfol Barceló, Joan Ferrà, Josep Porreres, Jaume Porcel, Mateu Jaume, Manuel Rodríguez, Jaume Alemany, Guillem Llabrés, Joan Domingo, Josep Pont, Bartomeu Cabanellas, Joana Vaño, Pere Antoni Bosch, Pere Horrach, Bartomeu Palmer, Gabriel Planes, Dionisio Alcal Rabassa and two unknown men murdered in Cas Català.
