Counter-memories of the Spanish Civil War: vandalism of Bilbao’s Iron Belt fortified line (Basque Country)

The archaeological traces of warfare define a complex heritage scenario as these traumatic historical events generate contested political narratives. The Republican fortified line known as Bilbao’s Iron Belt reflects the tensions of the different narratives surrounding the Spanish Civil War in the Basque Country. These tensions sometimes are materialised through vandalism actions (abandonment, graffiti, destruction), which counterpose new visions to the official narrative. This article explores the vandalism around the iconic Iron Belt heritage through a selection of three sectors. Results show that this is a widespread phenomenon and that, in some cases, it has become a chronic problem. Moreover, in those sites where vandalism actions have a clear intention for vindication, as in the case of political graffiti, they are directly related to their socio-cultural context. Beyond the intention of these (re)actions that transform archaeological heritage to claim alternative political narratives, we wonder if they also seek to promote a damnatio memoriae process. We also raise the question whether these graffiti can also be worth preserving as a symbol of present-day heritage-related activities.