Iglesia de Santa María de Hito

The Archaeological Zone of Santa María de Hito, in the municipality of Valderredible consists of three distinct parts, which must be protected, as detailed below.

The Church of Santa María de Hito, preserves remains of its Romanesque origin. It is essential to reconstruct the history of an enclave where successive settlements of different chronology and functions accumulate in a reduced space.

The medieval necropolis predates the construction of the church, with a chronology that would range from the 6th to the 12th centuries. It is possible that this necropolis was associated with a place of worship. The typology of the tombs is varied, made up of wall tombs, slabs and sarcophagi. The grave goods have revealed the presence of medieval painted and striated ceramics, rings with the cross and other anagrams, and above all a singular piece: the well-known bone belt buckle with pheasant motifs and a clearly oriental influence which is conserved in the Regional Museum of Prehistory and Archaeology of Cantabria. It should be noted that this necropolis, which has only been partially excavated, covers a particularly important period for understanding the continuity between the Roman world and the Middle Ages.

The Late Roman villa. This rural exploitation was founded at the end of 3rd century and remained in use until the beginning of 5th century. The main block of the excavation measures 56 by 24 meters, being cut by the current road. Several rooms have been identified, such as a triclinium, baths, storerooms, rooms and kitchen. Part of the rooms preserved remains of painted mural decoration. It is remarkable the fact that the villa of Santa María de Hito is of Nordic type, as opposed to the more frequent model of Mediterranean type.