Spanish Civil War grave search might find Lorca's burial place

FILE - In this Oct. 19, 2009 file photo, a worker walks past a monolith memorial of Spanish poet Federico Garcia Lorca where it is believed he is buried in Alfacar, near Granada, southern Spain. Monday, Oct. 19, 2009. A search for unmarked Spanish Civil War graves has begun in Alfacar, southern Spain near where the acclaimed poet Federico Garcia Lorca is believed to have been executed and buried at the start of the conflict in 1936. Lorca, one of Spain's most renowned 20th-century poets, was among tens of thousands of civilians executed by right-wing militias and buried in unmarked mass graves during and after the 1936-1939 war. (AP Photo/Sergio Torres, File) (The Associated Press)

ALFACAR, Spain – A search for unmarked Spanish Civil War graves has begun in southern Spain near where the acclaimed poet Federico Garcia Lorca is believed to have been executed and buried at the start of the conflict in 1936.

Andalusia's regional government said Wednesday work had begun to clear hundreds of forest land over a space of 300 square meters (3,230 square feet) outside the village of Alfacar to bring it back to pre-war levels. Archeologists will then begin soundings to try to detect bone remains.

The project is aimed at discovering war victims' remains, not specifically those of Lorca.

Lorca, one of Spain's most renowned 20th-century poets, was among tens of thousands of civilians executed by right-wing militias and buried in unmarked mass graves during and after the 1936-1939 war.