ACCIONA Energía discovered evidence of prehistoric human activity after beginning work on its Extremadura I-II-III solar plants – eventually leading to the discovery of a Copper Age and Roman activities dating back 5,000 years.

ACCIONA’s website details how it worked with the regional government of Extremadura to protect and uncover the Cortijo Lobato site.

Mikel Ortiz de Latierro, ACCIONA’s environment, social, health, safety, and quality director, said: “Preserving this heritage has been a priority from the start. We hired an archaeology company and worked closely with regional authorities to ensure the site’s margins were not compromised.”

A team of 15 archaeology specialists are now working within ACCIONA’s photovoltaic park and will continue for a number of years.

Reflecting on the initial find of a Roman dagger, Jenifer Andreu, lead environmental consultant at ACCIONA, said: “The idea of finding that ancient Roman iron dagger in a museum someday, and knowing it was discovered thanks to the work of ACCIONA Energía seems deeply humbling to me.”