Conimbriga

Conimbriga in Portugal is one of the most important Roman urban sites of Lusitania. It is valuable for houses with mosaics, baths, forum area, late walls, water supply, everyday finds and the strong connection between excavation and museum.

Archaeological complex

The settlement existed before Roman conquest but became a Roman town with public buildings and wealthy houses in the imperial period. The late defensive wall cutting through earlier quarters is especially important because it shows not only prosperity but the transformation of the town in Late Antiquity.

Conimbriga is important for well-preserved houses, mosaics, baths, late walls and engineering systems. Views of the excavations help show how wealthy houses and public zones changed between the early imperial period and the Late Antique defensive phase.

Conimbriga is important for well-preserved houses, mosaics, baths, late walls and engineering systems. Views of the excavations help show how wealthy houses and public zones changed between the early imperial period and the Late Antique defensive phase.

Conimbriga is important for well-preserved houses, mosaics, baths, late walls and engineering systems. Views of the excavations help show how wealthy houses and public zones changed between the early imperial period and the Late Antique defensive phase.

Finds and material setting

Conimbriga provides mosaics, wall painting, pottery, coins, ornaments, tools, water-supply elements and domestic utensils. For reconstructing houses, combinations matter: peristyle, water garden, mosaic, kitchen, bath and small finds together show lifestyle better than a single museum object.

Visual and archaeological evidence is useful here as a check on the prose: it connects visible walls, layout, finds and museum objects with the historical setting. Main evidence groups:

• houses with mosaics, baths, forum sectors and late walls;
• water supply, drainage, domestic pottery, glass and coins;
• evidence for elite houses and daily life;
• transformation into a Late Antique defensive setting.

Visual and archaeological evidence is useful here as a check on the prose: it connects visible walls, layout, finds and museum objects with the historical setting. Main evidence groups:

• houses with mosaics, baths, forum sectors and late walls;
• water supply, drainage, domestic pottery, glass and coins;
• evidence for elite houses and daily life;
• transformation into a Late Antique defensive setting.

Visual and archaeological evidence is useful here as a check on the prose: it connects visible walls, layout, finds and museum objects with the historical setting. Main evidence groups:

• houses with mosaics, baths, forum sectors and late walls;
• water supply, drainage, domestic pottery, glass and coins;
• evidence for elite houses and daily life;
• transformation into a Late Antique defensive setting.

Interpretation and limits

Conimbriga is especially strong for urban and domestic environments, but it is less suitable as a primary source for the army. Military topics should be connected through provincial administration, roads and late defence rather than through equipment.

Related topics

• Roman Archaeological Sources
• Roman Empire
• Villa rustica
• Thermae
• Everyday utensils
• Roman aqueduct

Literature

• Jorge de Alarcao. Conimbriga. Lisbon, 1988.
• Monographic Museum of Conimbriga: excavation and collection material.
• Studies on Roman Lusitania and domestic mosaics.