The Artists’ Vineyard Reveals a Neolithic Site During Archaeological Excavations
October 2025 · La Pobla de Cérvoles
During October 2025, the Artists’ Vineyard, the cultural and landscape project of Mas Blanch i Jové, was the setting for a campaign of archaeological excavations that revealed evidence of human occupation dating back approximately 7,000 years to the Neolithic period.
The work, carried out in collaboration with a team of archaeologists specialising in prehistory, uncovered a significant concentration of archaeological material, mainly knapped flint tools and ceramic fragments, attributable to the Early Neolithic (around 5,000 BC). In total, nearly 400 fragments were identified on the surface, along with more than 500 additional elements recovered through stratigraphic test pits.
The excavations were conducted in an uncultivated area of the estate, close to one of the emblematic artworks of the Artists’ Vineyard, reinforcing the singular nature of this space as a meeting point between art, landscape and historical memory. In addition to the Neolithic remains, evidence from a later period was also identified, including slag and mineral residues that may be associated with metallurgical activities dating between 2200 and 1500 BC.
Although the area investigated so far is limited, the results suggest that the archaeological site may extend over a larger part of the territory, opening up new lines of research for the future. The recovered materials will be conserved and studied over the coming years in accordance with current regulations, and the competent authorities will determine their final destination.
These discoveries add a new dimension to the narrative of the Artists’ Vineyard, a project that has, since its inception, integrated contemporary art, organic agriculture and landscape. The discovery of a prehistoric settlement confirms that this land has been inhabited and worked for millennia, establishing a direct link between the earliest farmers and today’s environmentally respectful vineyard practices.
With this initiative, Mas Blanch i Jové reaffirms its commitment to understanding the land as a living space, layered with time, where the most ancient past enters into dialogue with contemporary artistic creation and a deeply rooted way of working the territory.
With the cooperation of Diputació de Lleida’s Patronat de Promoció Econòmica: promocioeconomica.cat
