Passal Archaeological Site

Category: Civil Architecture > Museum

District: Viseu > Santa Comba Dão > Pregoinho > Regato da Serra

Location

The Passal Archaeological Site is located in Pregoinho, within the Regato da Serra area, in the municipality of Santa Comba Dão. This area offers a natural and peaceful setting, inviting the discovery of historical remains in a calm environment.

A Glimpse into Ancient Rome

Excavations carried out at Passal have revealed the foundations of a Roman-era building, dating back to the 1st century. This structure would have been inhabited for several centuries, remaining in use until approximately the 3rd or 4th century, a period corresponding to the High Roman Empire. Well-defined divisions can be observed, suggesting the house's layout, including what is presumed to have been the kitchen, where the original floor and fireplace are identified, as well as remnants of ceramic vessels used in daily life.

Evidence of Commercial Exchange

Among the findings at the Passal Site, ceramic fragments stand out, offering clues about the commercial connections of the time. Pieces of terra sigillata hispanica were found, whose origin points to the Ebro Valley, evidencing a network of contacts that transcended the borders of the province of Lusitania. The presence of regionally manufactured pottery, perhaps from Conímbriga, complements this picture, indicating that the site was part of long- and medium-distance trade circuits.

Layers of Human History

The Passal Archaeological Site offers a journey through more than a thousand years of human presence. In addition to the Roman occupation period, the site witnessed a new cycle of life during the High Middle Ages. On a higher level than the Roman building, the foundations of a construction dating back to this medieval period were discovered, contemporary with the first historical record of the church of Santa Columba, dated 974. This superposition of occupations allows for an understanding of the continuity and complexity of the region's history.

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