In 2024, during the foundation works of a new building on Fortuny Street in the Sant Crist de Can Cabanyes neighborhood, a cavity appeared that turned out to be an air raid shelter from the Civil War that belonged to a family or group of neighbors in the neighborhood. The promoters of the work, INCASOL, alerted the archaeology and paleontology service of the Generalitat de Catalunya and work began on its archaeological study. This was done, in large part, with auxiliary techniques such as the use of drones and 3D scanning by the company Global Geomática.

In Badalona, ​​it is the first time that an air raid shelter has been archaeologically intervened. In fact, the only one that remains open is public, is located in the basement of the Plaça de la Vila and is currently an exhibition hall. It was built by the Ministry of Defence, through its Permanent Commission in charge of the passive defence of the city during the first months of the war.

The study of the shelters, to this day, only has historical information and some plans preserved in the Historical Archive of the City of Badalona (AHBDN). Recently, a book entitled Badalona under the bombs was published, by the historian Joan Villarroya i Font, which includes a list of the shelters identified and executed by the aforementioned Board. Some shelters promoted by the industries located on the seafront, military targets of the Italian aviation, are also known.

By Aina Ruiz, archaeologist, and Rubén Ramírez, topographic technician at GLOBAL GEOMÁTICA