Last Wednesday 18, on TVE's La 2, part of the archaeological heritage of Navarre was the protagonist of the second episode of the new season of "Arqueomanía", one of the cultural programs with the highest audience share on Spanish public television. 

Santa Criz de Eslava is one of the Roman archaeological sites that the viewer was able to learn more about from Javier Andreu, Full Professor of Ancient History and director of the Diploma in Archaeology of the School of Philosophy and Letters of the University. Presented by Manuel Pimentel, the program toured the southern cryptoportico of the forum and visited the exhibition of archaeological materials promoted by the City of Eslava. It also addressed issues such as the current state of the archaeological research in Navarra, or the results of the sounding campaigns that students of the Diploma in Archaeology at the University of Navarra have carried out in recent years, under the coordination of Professor Andreu, director of project of excavations at the site since 2017.

"It is a real privilege and a sample of the potential of Santa Criz to be featured in this television program along with other major archaeological sites in Spain," Andreu said. "Aware of its importance in the history of the Community, the University of Navarra is working with several companies in the region of Sangüesa for the creation of a Chair of History and Archaeology of the Mediterranean to promote, with private funds, the research, promotion and revitalization of this place, which annually attracts about 4,000 visitors," he added.

Santa Criz de Eslava, one of the most monumental Roman cities in the region, was excavated in the 1990s. With the impetus of the City Council of Eslava and the support of the Institución Príncipe de Viana and the Parliament of Navarra, a team from the University of Navarra has been working since 2015 on its excavation and recovery. To date, it is the only Navarre site where the forum, a Roman civic space par excellence, can be visited. Among the archaeological objects recovered and exhibited in the town of Eslava, there are some of the most remarkable sets of architectural decoration (capitals, columns...) of the northeastern peninsular as well as unique sculptural and epigraphic elements in Navarra.

The complete program can be viewed at link.