Destroyed Spanish town Belchite still reveals war relics

The Story in Brief

Archaeologists in Belchite, a Spanish town destroyed during the 1937 battle of the Civil War, have uncovered trenches, machine-gun positions, and everyday items such as medicine bottles and food tins. The finds, reported by the International Brigade Memorial Trust, show how ordinary people experienced the conflict at ground level.

Franco left the ruins intact as a reminder of the Nationalist victory, while a new Belchite was built next to it using forced labour from Republican prisoners. The excavations, led by archaeologist Alfredo González-Ruibal, continue to reveal layers of war and dictatorship, from bullets to personal belongings.