Category: Archaeology > Pottery
District: Setúbal > Seixal > Corroios > Quinta do Brasileiro
The Roman Pottery of Quinta do Rouxinol is located in the town of Corroios, within the municipality of Seixal, in the district of Setúbal. This archaeological site is specifically situated in the area known as Quinta do Brasileiro, a place that combines historical heritage with the contemporary landscape of the region. Its strategic location in Roman times was, most likely, determined by its proximity to essential resources such as clay and water, fundamental for pottery activity, as well as by communication routes to transport the production.
This site is a testament to the intense Roman activity in the Iberian Peninsula and, particularly, on the south bank of the Tagus River. The Pottery of Quinta do Rouxinol was a ceramic production center, revealing the importance of industries and trade in the ancient province of Lusitania. Archaeological excavations at the site allowed the discovery of remains of structures associated with manufacturing, such as large kilns and work areas where clay was prepared and pieces were molded. The presence of numerous ceramic fragments, dating from different periods of Roman occupation, offers valuable clues about technological evolution and production typologies over time.
In a Roman pottery, the ceramic creation process was laborious and required expertise. Everything began with the extraction and preparation of clay, which was purified and mixed to obtain the ideal consistency. Subsequently, the clay was molded into various forms, from storage and transport vessels, such as wine or olive oil amphorae, to domestic tableware and construction materials, such as bricks and tiles. After natural air drying, the pieces were taken to the kilns, where the crucial firing phase took place. The kilns, often built with vaults and chimneys, were designed to reach and maintain high temperatures, transforming soft clay into hard and resistant ceramic. The scale and organization of these potteries were vital to supply the needs of the Roman population and trade.
The Roman Pottery of Quinta do Rouxinol is not merely a set of ruins; it is a valuable resource for understanding the economy, technology, and daily life of Roman civilization in the Seixal region. The discovered remains allow historians and archaeologists to reconstruct the social and economic dynamics of the time, from the exploitation of natural resources to the trade routes that connected this point to other areas of the empire. A visit to this site offers a tangible perspective on the historical roots and enduring legacy of Rome in the Iberian Peninsula, highlighting the capacity for innovation and organization that characterized this millennia-old civilization.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 38.64545593736499,-9.14483736498654
Coordinates DMS: 38°38'43.6"N 09°08'41.4"W