Roman archaeological station of Praia da Luz

Category: Archaeology > Villa

District: Faro > Lagos > Luz > Praia da Luz

Location

The archaeological site is located in the village of Luz, in the municipality of Lagos, Portugal, near the coastline.

Ruins and Composition

The archaeological site consists of the ruins of a bathhouse and several tanks for salting fish. The ruins are partially covered by a modern residential building.

Bathhouse

The bathhouse was spacious and had several rectangular rooms, including a furnace, hot baths, and cold baths. The floor was covered with mosaics. The water supply was provided by a system of pipes connected to the ocean and a local stream.

Fish Salting Tanks (Cetariae)

Next to the bathhouse, an industrial complex for the production of fish derivatives was built, with several salting tanks. These tanks were built in different phases, and there were architectural differences between them.

Finds and Conservation

In addition to the ruins of the buildings, remains of animals, parts of amphorae, pottery, glass objects, and building materials were found. Coins, marble friezes, and parts of mosaics were also discovered.

History

The archaeological site dates back to the Roman period, between the 1st and 4th centuries AD. The bathhouse was built in the 2nd to 3rd centuries AD, undergoing renovations in the 4th century. The fish salting tanks were used until the end of the 4th or beginning of the 5th century.

Discovery and Excavations

The ruins were identified and excavated by archaeologist Estácio da Veiga in the 19th century. He also found pre-Roman remains in the region.

Preservation

The ruins were classified as a Property of Public Interest in 1992. Over the years, the archaeological site has faced threats due to urbanization works, but efforts have been made to preserve and protect the ruins.

Current State

Currently, the ruins are partially visible and can be visited by tourists. They offer a fascinating insight into Roman architecture and the way of life in the region.

Sources: https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estação_Arqueológica_Romana_da_Praia_da_Luz

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