Over the centuries, blocks were removed from the upper part of the Roman theatre at Singilia Barba. Lower down, much of the middle tier of seating remained in place. An excavation in September 2026 exposed nine rows there.
The theatre, around seven kilometres north-west of Antequera, was already known. Excavations by the University of Málaga between 1985 and 1991 documented the Roman city’s public buildings and part of the upper seating. The latest work has reached the middle tier, allowing archaeologists to assess how well it has survived.
According to the archaeologists’ reconstruction, some blocks from the upper tier were removed and reused in the church of San Juan de Dios in Antequera. In the middle tier, by contrast, many sandstone seats remain where they were originally placed.
Luis Romero Novella, an archaeologist at the Complutense University of Madrid and the project’s scientific lead, said the condition of the seating had exceeded the team’s expectations. The excavation is part of Rediscovering Singilia Barba, a project led by the university that combines excavation, geophysical surveys and the study of material held in museums.
The theatre measures around 52 metres across and could seat approximately 2,000 people. So far, about five per cent of the building has been excavated. The lower seating, the orchestra, a space in front of the stage, and the stage façade have yet to be examined.
The archaeologists think the rows nearest the orchestra may preserve inscriptions marking seats reserved for members of the elite. Architectural and sculptural decoration may also survive near the stage. For now, both areas remain buried.
