Human remains and small ceramic fragments scattered on Arzobispo Nouel Street, opposite the Church of Nuestra Señora del Carmen, are being examined by archaeologists to determine their ethnic origin and the century they may have belonged to.
The National Monumental Heritage Agency (DNPM) announced on 21 May 2025 that, according to historical records, it was customary to bury believers’ bodies on the outskirts of churches, a practice that began to change formally with the inauguration of the cemetery on Independencia Avenue in August 1824.
The Church of El Carmen was built on the grounds of the San Andrés Hospital in 1615 by the Brotherhood of Los Remedios and El Carmen through donations.
“The earliest records of burials at this temple date back to the second half of the 1660s; however, there are no preserved plaques or epitaphs for any of the individuals buried in this ancient church, either inside or outside,” the DNPM stated.
On Tuesday, 20 May 2025, workers laying underground electric cables on Arzobispo Nouel Street, opposite the Church of El Carmen, uncovered human remains. Archaeologists have since initiated an investigation to establish whether they are indigenous or Spanish, as well as their age and date.
The DNPM clarified that before starting excavations and reconstruction work in the Colonial City, an archaeological assessment protocol is applied to determine the presence of archaeological remains.
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Diario Libre
DR1 News
22 May 2025