Roman Villa of Monte da Chaminé

Category: Archaeology > Roman Villa

District: Beja > Aljustrel > Aljustrel

Location

The Roman Villa of Monte da Chaminé is located in the municipality of Aljustrel, set within a rural Alentejo landscape. It is situated on a hillside, next to the bank of a stream, offering a tranquil and serene environment that allows for an immersion in the history and surrounding nature of southern Portugal.

A Legacy of Ancient Rome

This villa represents one of the most significant testimonies of the Roman presence in southern Lusitania. Its occupation extended from the early 1st century AD to the 5th century AD, a period during which it played a vital role in the region. It is a remarkable example of a complex that combined a stately dwelling with a vast area dedicated to agricultural and industrial production, reflecting the economic and social organization of the time.

The Daily Life of the Rural Elite

The residential area of the villa, known as the pars urbana, was carefully planned for the comfort of its owners. Structured around a central garden, it featured a water feature that enhanced the elegance of the space. Porticoed galleries distributed the various rooms, some of which reveal two-toned geometric mosaics on their floors. Vestiges of painted stucco with various colours can be observed, offering an idea of the rich decoration that adorned the interiors and the peristyle corridor.

Production and Sustenance

Complementing the residential area, the pars fructuaria of the villa was the center of agro-industrial activities. It was composed of various structures, including a cellar warehouse where walls about 1.65 meters high and the beginning of a vault can still be seen. In this warehouse, two twin tanks stand out, likely used in the olive oil production process. Other agricultural structures were also identified, such as an elevated upper floor for air circulation, possibly a granary, and a small tank for receiving liquids.

The sustenance of the villa and its productions was ensured by an ingenious water management system. Approximately 250 meters from the dwelling, on a tributary stream, there was a dam with a straight masonry wall. This dam, about 3.20 meters high, ensured the irrigation of gardens, fruit trees, and vineyards, being supplied by an upstream spring through a conduit.

Stories Revealed by the Earth

Since its identification in 1981, archaeological excavations have revealed layers of history at this site. In addition to the Roman wealth, a notable discovery was a 13th-century skeleton in the villa's warehouse, accompanied by a scallop shell and fragments of a pot, indicating it was a pilgrim to Santiago de Compostela. This find underscores the continuity of occupation and the use of the site as a landmark over the centuries. The collected archaeological materials, which attest to the villa's importance and its connection to various parts of the Roman Empire, are preserved at the Municipal Museum of Ferreira do Alentejo, contributing to the understanding of this site's legacy.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt