The Archaeological and Paleontological Museum in Rojales has officially opened the exhibition titled ‘Ajuares para la Eternidad. El rito funerario en el Cabezo del Molino’. This exhibition features four sets of Byzantine jewellery discovered in the necropolis of the Cabezo del Molino site. Cultural Counsellor Juan de Dios Navarro inaugurated the display alongside local dignitaries, including the town’s mayor, Antonio Pérez, and the director of the Alicante Archaeological Museum, Manuel Olcina.

Navarro explained that the exhibition stems from research undertaken since two thousand and eighteen at Cabezo del Molino, part of the Annual Excavation Plan of the Provincial Council of Alicante, collaborating closely with the Rojales town council and its archaeological museum. The exhibition employs innovative museography, including explanatory panels and a narrative video, to illustrate a significant moment in history.

This site is one of the earliest in the province indicating a Byzantine presence (sixth to seventh centuries A.D.), highlighting the early manifestations of Christian communities in rural settings. Notably, excavations revealed a high number of child burials, likely victims of the devastating epidemic known as the “Justinian Plague,” as well as young female graves—aged between six and twelve—who received special treatment in death due to their untimely passing.

The poignant burial rites included adorning these young girls with wedding-like jewellery, comprising necklaces and earrings made from high-quality materials such as amber, bronze, and silver, along with semi-precious stones like carnelian and turquoise. Additionally, recent excavation campaigns uncovered significant findings, including a building whose layout resembles early Christian basilicas. This discovery could potentially document, for the first time, a complete funerary complex associated with a religious structure in the province, further validating the region’s historical significance.