Courtesy / Flu
Campaign of archaeological excavations in the Roman city of Ammaia. Works focused on two distinct areas.
Another excavation campaign in Ammaia, Roman City that was in Lusitania – Today Portugal, near Portalegre (and Spain).
Ammaia is an important archaeological site. Located in São Salvador da Aramenha, Marvão municipality, is inside the Serra de São Mamede Natural Park. It is one of the best identified and studied Roman cities in the territory of ancient Lusitania.
The focus of archaeologists was the study of amphitheater, located on the northwest outskirts of the city. Ammaia amphitheater, the fifth known in Lusitania, was built in the second half of the fourth century and will have been in use until the fourth century.
The priority was to know the Nor-Northeast outer area of the building, after six years of excavations that enabled the definition of its internal structure.
The works focused on two distinct areas: Definition of the Perimeter Wall of the building and the zone of its northdeactivated at a late moment of its use, where an incineration grave had already been identified.
This investigation revealed new graves that came to occupy the access space to this entrance to the amphitheater, read in a statement sent to ZAP.
The abundant associated material, ceramic, glass, metals – once treated and studied – will be part of the collections exhibited at the City of Ammaia Foundation Museum.
The works still take place but everything points out that, in the second half of the third century (or even before), this access to the amphitheater was no longer used and space became a necropolis.
These investigations are inserted in the National Plan of Archaeological Works. They are an international partnership of the Faculty of Letters of the University of Lisbon and the National Museum of Roman Art (Merida) with the City of Ammaia Foundation.
