The stones of Ammaia (Portugal): use and provenance

• Devi Taelman ^[1] ; F. Vermeulen ^[2] ; M. de Dapper ^[1] ; P. de Paepe ^[1]
  1. [1] Ghent University

     Ghent University

     Arrondissement Gent, Bélgica

     
  2. [2] Universidade de Évora

     Universidade de Évora

     Senhora da Saúde, Portugal

     
• Localización: Interdisciplinary studies on ancient stone: proceedings of the IX Association for the Study of Marbles and Other Stones in Antiquity (ASMOSIA) Conference (Tarragona 2009) / coord. por Anna Gutiérrez García-Moreno, María Pilar Lapuente Mercadal, Isabel Rodà de Llanza, 2012, ISBN 978-84-939033-8-1, págs. 117-126
• Idioma: inglés
• Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
• Resumen

  • Provenance studies of raw stone material provide an important insight into the architectural industry and the general economic situation of an ancient town. The urban site of Ammaia (Portugal), a good example of a medium-sized Roman provincial town, required a well-organised stone supply model. In a region where pre-Roman stone architecture was practically non-existent, a study of the stone supply offers important new perspectives on Romanization processes and urban development of an inland region in the Western Roman Empire. The excavated structural remains clearly reveal granite as the most important natural building material throughout the Roman life span of Ammaia. Shale, quartzite and sandstone river cobbles and marble were used to a lesser extent. Through a detailed study of the geological setting of the town and an intensive geoarchaeological survey, potential source areas of the different stone types were determined.