Cocosa / Dehesa de la Cocosa / La Cocosa

Excavation started in 1945. Noted in José de C. Serra Ráfols (1949) and (1952). Described and illustrated in Palol (1967), after Serra Ráfols, as one of three rectangular sunken fonts of the Early Christian period discovered in Spain [S. Pedro de Mérida and the Necrópolis of San Fructuoso in Tarragona are the other two]. Palol (ibid.) points out the odd shape of the bottom of the inner well: below the two steps on each long side of the rectangle, the floor is not flat; the two half sides are inclined and end in a little well only 3 cm deep, without a drain. As many of the other fonts of this type and period, the font is made of a concrete of crushed ceramic. Noted and illustrated in Khatchatrian (1982). In Carrillo Martín de Cáceres (1983). General history and description of the site, links, bibliography, etc., in the Diputación de Badajoz site [https://villaromanadelacocosa.wordpress.com/descripcion/] [accessed 20 June 2017]. The site has been placed in the list of endangered sites Lista Roja del Patrimonio [http://listarojapatrimonio.org/ficha/villa-romana-de-la-cocosa/] [accessed 20 June 2017]: "Estado: Yacimiento excavado en tiempos, pero en proceso de destrucción por el clima y el expolio con detectores de metales. Lo que queda de esta villa está totalmente abandonado a su suerte. Sufre daños por la vegetación. Vallada precariamente y sin vigilancia. Carácter de riesgo: Deterioro, expolio y falta de atención por parte de las autoridades."