As workers broke ground for the expansion of Metro Line 11, they uncovered more than just a path for new tunnels – they stumbled upon a piece of history. The longest stretch of the Real Canal del Manzanares, an 18th-century infrastructure that connected Madrid to the Tagus River to facilitate the transportation of goods, has been discovered. This incredible find has been extensively documented by a team of archaeologists, who are diligently collecting, analyzing, and categorizing every bit of information possible about the unearthed section, which will eventually become part of the Madrid Río station.
While preserving the site in its original condition isn’t feasible, the goal is to integrate the remnants into a museum project within the station, a strategy that has been successfully implemented in other metro projects. To achieve this, the lead archaeologist, Esther Andreu, explained that “wooden planks are being set aside for restoration, and laser scanners are being used to capture every detail” of the ancient canal. These efforts will help piece together the history of this remarkable piece of infrastructure.
Although this discovery is certainly valuable, the archaeological team wasn’t entirely caught off guard. Previous excavations in the area had already uncovered parts of the Real Canal, and it was known that this historic site fell within the area affected by the Line 11 expansion. In fact, some local associations had even suspected that remnants would surface as the excavation progressed.
The History of the Real Canal
The Real Canal played a vital role in transporting goods to the numerous factories in the Arganzuela area. The mode of transportation consisted of flat, wooden barges that navigated the shallow waterway, which was filled with water from the nearby Manzanares River. Despite its considerable width – nearly 9 meters – the canal’s depth was limited, making it an ideal route for these flat barges.
A Century of Use
The Real Canal remained in use for approximately 100 years, until its decline in the late 19th century, when the advent of railroads offered a cheaper and faster alternative. The grand infrastructure, once envisioned by the Spanish Crown as a means to connect Madrid to the sea via Lisbon, eventually fell into disuse and was buried under tons of earth and debris. Ironically, this abandonment contributed to its remarkably good preservation, allowing it to remain hidden until its recent discovery.
Construction Continues
Work on Metro Line 11, which will connect the city’s southwest and northeast with 20 stations, is progressing as scheduled. The team is eagerly awaiting the arrival of a tunneling machine in the second half of this year, which will enable them to bore through the subsurface at a faster pace. In the meantime, archaeologists are working against the clock to document and preserve the discovered remains, providing a unique glimpse into Madrid’s past and its evolution as a commercial and transportation hub.
As the project nears completion, with the station expected to be finished by the end of the year, the goal is to alleviate pressure on Line 6, the city’s circular metro line. The discovery of the Real Canal serves as a poignant reminder of the city’s rich history and the importance of preserving its cultural heritage for future generations.