Vallado invade entorno BIC del Tos Pelat

1/ What is the Tos Pelat site? The Tos Pelat is an Iberian archaeological site dating back to the 4th-3rd centuries BCE, located on a hill between Moncada and Bétera in Valencia province, Spain. Designated as a Bien de Interés Cultural (BIC)—Spain's highest cultural heritage protection level—since 2000, it features rock engravings, settlement remains, and a protected perimeter to preserve its historical integrity. 2/ What exactly happened with the fencing? A metal fence expansion was installed directly over ancient rocks at the site's boundary line between Moncada and Bétera municipalities. The new fencing encroaches into the BIC's protected buffer zone, altering the terrain without apparent permits. Moncada's municipal archaeology department documented the installation as occurring recently, with anchors drilled into protected stone surfaces. 3/ Who put up the fence and why? The fencing belongs to a private landowner adjacent to the site, extended to secure property amid ongoing rural land disputes. Local reports indicate the owner aimed to clarify boundaries amid disputes with neighboring plots, but the placement ignores the site's protected status. No construction permit was filed with Valencia's regional heritage authority, per municipal records. 4/ Who raised the alarm? Moncada's archaeology service, led by technician María José García, inspected the site on May 10, 2026, and filed a formal complaint with Valencia's regional culture department and the Generalitat Valenciana's heritage office. "The intervention directly impacts the BIC's protected environment," García stated in the report, calling for immediate removal. Local heritage groups like the Associació per la Defensa del Patrimoni Cultural de l'Horta Nord echoed the denuncia. 5/ What does Spanish law say about BIC protections? Under Spain's 1985 Historical Heritage Law (updated 2007), BIC sites and their 100-meter buffers prohibit alterations like drilling or fencing without approval from regional authorities. Violations can lead to fines up to €600,000, mandatory restoration, and criminal charges if deemed intentional damage. Valencia's Conselleria de Cultura enforces this via site inspections and sanctions. (; ) 6/ Has this happened before at Tos Pelat? Yes—the site has faced repeated encroachments. In 2018, illegal agricultural work damaged rock art, resulting in a €3,000 fine after a similar denuncia. Boundary fencing disputes between Moncada and Bétera landowners have persisted since 2015, with the site caught in municipal turf wars over jurisdiction. Archaeology reports note at least three prior interventions in the buffer zone. (; ) 7/ What's next in the process? The Conselleria de Cultura has 30 days to inspect and rule on the complaint, potentially ordering fence removal by June 15, 2026. If upheld, the landowner faces administrative sanctions and restoration costs. Moncada council plans a joint Moncada-Bétera heritage meeting on May 20 to push for better site monitoring. (; )