Category: Civil Architecture > Museum
District: Portalegre > Marvão > Beirã > Pombais
Situated on the Herdade dos Pombais estate, in the area of the same name, in the locality of Beirã, municipality of Marvão, this archaeological site is immersed in a rural setting. The surrounding land is agricultural, and the site is bordered, to the south and west, by the waters of the Sever River. The surrounding landscape, at an altitude of 320 meters, offers a perspective of Alentejo tranquility, with the particularity of being next to an old railway line.
Herdade dos Pombais holds the remains of an ancient Roman villa rustica. This type of settlement was primarily agricultural, combining residential function with productive activities in the countryside. The buildings found on the site date back to a vast period, spanning from the 1st to the 5th centuries AD. The archaeological site is a testament to the Roman presence and socioeconomic organization in this interior Alentejo region.
The excavations carried out have revealed part of the structures of this Roman villa. It is possible to observe the walls of a rectangular-plan building, divided into several compartments, presumed to have been a bathing area. Extending from this construction, a necropolis is located. Two tombs are uncovered, carefully constructed with stone slabs arranged on edge, one belonging to a child and the other to an adult, offering direct contact with Roman-era funerary practices.
The archaeological work at the Roman Site of Herdade dos Pombais has brought to light a collection of objects that allow for a better understanding of the daily lives of the populations who lived here. Among the finds are pieces in bronze, such as earrings, bracelet fragments, rings, and coins, which indicate not only domestic life but also commercial exchanges. Objects made of iron, glass, ceramics, antimony, and lead were also found, in addition to a tooth. These remains, dated between the 1st and 5th centuries, are crucial for reconstructing the material culture and customs of the people who inhabited this villa rustica.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 39.4700949,-7.3243632
Coordinates DMS: 39°28'12.3"N 07°19'27.7"W
Weather Beirã
On-duty Pharmacy Beirã
