#MAREMonday 15

On 03.10.2022 we present the 15th session of our online lecture series with a contribution by

Ada Lasheras González
(École des Hautes Études Hispaniques et Ibériques – Casa de Velázquez / Institut Català d’Arqueologia Clàssica)

Understanding the Roman Port of Tarraco through Urban Archaeology

Abstract:

This lecture aims to provide an overview of the evolution of the Roman port of Tarraco, from the 2nd century BC to the 5th century AD. Despite the loss of direct evidence of the ancient harbour infrastructures in the late-19th century, the urban excavations conducted at the south-western area of the town since the 1990s have discovered an extraordinary Roman quarter linked to the harbour, known as the ‘port suburb’. Moreover, the development of geophysical and geoarchaeological analyses at the area of the ancient harbour basin, within the framework of Rome’s Mediterranean Ports project (ERC Advanced Grant, 2014-2019), has contributed to further improve our understanding of the Roman port of Tarraco. However, even though the archaeological evidence is arguably the main source for analysing the port of Tarraco and its evolution over the centuries, a comprehensive study of all the archaeological remains of the port area has only become possible in recent years. By studying the evidence provided by these urban excavations the paper will offer a new view on the buildings and urban infrastructures relevant to the workings of the port (e.g. warehouses and roads). This evidence will also be related to the development of the town itself from a long-term perspective, seeking to assess the role of Tarraco as the main Roman port in the north-east of the Iberian Peninsula.