Petrer Names Museum Room After Archaeologist Concha Navarro

Starting next Thursday, September 12th, the temporary exhibition room at the Dámaso Navarro Museum will be renamed the Concha Navarro Archaeologist Room, in tribute to the archaeologist and historian from Petrer. Concha Navarro is a prominent figure in the cultural heritage field of the Vinalopó Valley and was awarded the Honorary Mention for Cultural Merit by Petrer on February 11th at a ceremony held at the Cultural Center.

The Petrer City Council unanimously approved that the temporary exhibition room at the Dámaso Navarro Museum will bear her name, as documented in the record of this high municipal distinction, which received numerous endorsements from both groups and individuals.

To mark this significant occasion, where the plaque bearing the room's new name will be unveiled, the Department of Heritage and the management of the Dámaso Navarro Museum decided that the best way to honor Concha Navarro would be by dedicating the next temporary exhibition to her. Thus, on Thursday, September 12th, at 7:30 PM, the exhibition "Concha Navarro. Passion for Archaeology" will be inaugurated.

Fernando Portillo, Councilor for Culture and Heritage, stated that the exhibition "aims to provide an overview of Concha's life and professional achievements as an archaeologist, which earned her the Honorary Mention for Cultural Merit from the Petrer City Council." The exhibition traces her life journey and archaeological research in both Petrer and Novelda.

For her part, Concha Navarro expressed feeling "very overwhelmed and grateful" to the City Council and the people of Petrer for all the tributes and congratulations since last February.

Concha took this opportunity to review her professional career and emphasized that "throughout the various municipal administrations we have had in Petrer during democracy, there has always been considerable sensitivity towards heritage," highlighting the importance of "institutional support" for heritage conservation.

Concha Navarro (Petrer, 1949) holds a degree in History from the University of Alicante. Through archaeology and museography, she has professionally developed a broad range of knowledge about the cultures that inhabited Petrer.

Even before earning her degree, Concha was involved in activities with the Petrelense Archaeological Group, influenced by her brother Boni and other members such as Dámaso Navarro and Paco Bernabéu. These were also the years when the Roman mosaic on Constitución Street was discovered. She joined the Petrelense Archaeological Group until its dissolution in 2001 when one of its main objectives was achieved: the creation of the Dámaso Navarro Archaeological and Ethnological Museum and the establishment of a director position for it.

Since 1983, when she completed her History degree, her work and research have focused on archaeological excavations and studies, notably her interventions in Vinalopó castles such as those in Sax, La Mola de Novelda, and Petrer. In 1986, Concha took on the role of municipal archaeologist and museum director in Novelda, a position she held until her retirement in 2016.