LAB WORK: ROMAN POTTERY & ZOOARCHAEOLOGY > Menorca

General Information About Menorca

Menorca is a small island within the Spanish Autonomous Community of the Balearic Islands. It enjoys a Mediterranean weather, with mild and pleasant temperatures, especially during June and September.

The island of Menorca is located in the centre of the Western Mediterranean Sea. Due to its geographical location, the island has been a strategical place for many civilizations. Phoenicians, Romans, Arabs, English, French, and Spanish have all conquered the island to control the Mediterranean.

The Roman culture arrived for the first time to Menorca when its army conquered the Balearic Islands in 123 B.C. Since that moment, and for some 600 years, Menorca was a part of the large Roman Empire. Three Roman cities were founded in the island, one of them, Sanisera, was built in the north harbour of Sanitja. Maritime trade in this port was very intense, with boats coming from Spain on their way to Italy and from France to Africa, as shown by the large amount of amphoras and other items found in the most recent excavations.

Sanisera is part of a spectacular natural reserve of the Cape of Cavalleria. The Ecomuseo of the Cape of Cavalleria organizes international archaeological projects.