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A Roman villa consisted of three main areas: the pars urbana – the main residence, the pars fructuaria – the area for land exploitation, and the pars rustica – quarters for slaves and laborers. Archaeologists have excavated only a portion of the Roman Villa of Santa Catarina de Sitimos, uncovering a large pool in the baths and a production building connected to a cellar. There is still a lot to be found, of course, but the materials and masonry already discovered suggest the site has potential to be a major archaeological site. The excavation of another Roman villa in the vicinity, the so-called Centaurs Villa due to a centaur mosaic found, unique in Lusitania province and rare in the Roman Empire, is a good example of the extravagant villas built in this territory.
The archaeological work so far has uncovered artifacts dating from the Early Empire to the Late Antiquity periods, such as pottery, glass, metal, coins, and one uncommon find, a solar quadrant, a type of clock. After the owners abandoned the villa, later cultures moved in, evident from some remains from Spain's Islamic period. The current village was founded after the Christian kingdoms took control in 1217, building a chapel in honor of Our Lady of Santa Catarina.
Participants will learn field methodology and the different practical approaches as the work progresses. They will be the archaeologists on site, and, with the proper supervision, they will learn to use different tools, create a field journal, take measurements for mapping, clean and draw the finds, and fill out the forms for each stratigraphic unit.
Throughout the program, archaeologists will provide seminars that focus on specific aspects of the archaeological process, such as pottery analysis, restoration and conservation, stratigraphy, and archaeological illustration. English and Portuguese are the official languages of the program. Seminars and Workshops
- Roman Archaeology in the Lower Sado Region - Stratigraphy and Onsite Journaling - The Roman Villa - Archaeological Sites as Open-air Museums - From the Field to the Lab: Inventory and Storage of Archaeological Materials - Accessibility and Inclusion in Cultural Heritage - Museums and Communication - Enhancing a Roman Villa workshop - Hands-on experience designing informational panels for visitors to the archaeological site of Santa Catarina de Sítimos excavationThis archaeological site was discovered in 1977 during construction work to widen a road in the village. Nearly 10 years later, municipal archaeologist João Carlos Faria began the first archaeological project to understand the Roman remains. His excavation in the pars fructuaria uncovered a series of interconnected basins, which was enough evidence of organized production that it allowed him to create an archaeological reserve that prevents development in the area.
By 1989 Faria mapped the perimeter of the Roman villa. In 2006 the cultural council of Alcácer do Sal sponsored the excavation of the basins under the direction of António Carvalho and Rita Balona. One year later, Carvalho began the excavation of the baths, unearthing the staircase to the large swimming pool (natatio) with walls lined with opus signinum. Balona, now part of the municipal archaeological department under Marisol Ferreira, in 2016 excavated an 18m long, 2m wide test trench between the exposed area of the natatio and the modern community center and elementary school. This trench was designed to survey the area for the renovation of the modern plumbing system and to identify the western edge of the pool. The work found that the natatio measured 20m in length and 8.3m in width, one of the largest pools in a Lusitanian Roman villa.
In 2017, Balona directed the complete mapping of the villa's visible structures. In 2019, private company Era – Arqueologia completed a geophysical survey of the site.
The excavated area so far includes two buildings, baths, and a production building connected with a cellar, but also includes artifacts and structures from a post-Roman settlement that has yet to be defined. In 2022, archaeologist Ana Patrícia Magalhães featured this site in her Ph.D. dissertation about the Lower Sado Harbor Roman Complex to verify the villa's chronology and better characterize the settlements around the Roman city of Salacia. Goals for 2025:
In 2024, ArchaeoSpain, the Alcácer do Sal archaeological department, and archaeologists Sónia Bombico and Ana Patrícia Magalhães, joined forces to launch a new project at the site with an Archaeology & Museum Studies Field School. The objective was to continue the excavation of the baths and the production building. In 2025 we will continue investigating the bath house and the basins in the production area. New trenches will be dug to identify the area around the domus, the main house. This archaeological excavation and field school form part of the Santa Catarina de Sítimos Safeguarding Project. Students will actively participate in the visitor development of this site through the Enhancing a Roman Villa workshop, which last year focused on designing informational panels.
accommodationAlcácer do Sal is one of the oldest towns in Europe and has played an important role since the Iron Age: pre-Roman, Roman, Moorish, and later as a center for the Santiago Military Order after the northern kingdoms conquered the region. The town has a population of around 11,000 people and preserves the historical atmosphere with the traditional white and blue houses from the Alentejo region.
The group will stay in the Monte Penedo do Chibato villa located in the nearby village of Montemor-o-Novo, which has shopping, coffee shops, and supermarkets. Our villa is a beautiful country home with a private swimming pool. The praia da Comporta, the fanciest beach in Portugal, is only a 20-minute drive from Alcácer do Sal!
We will eat breakfast in our villa. Lunch will be next to the work site in the community center, where we will do our afternoon lab work and workshops. We will eat a catered dinner at our villa. You will also have the opportunity to try local food at the restaurants and enjoy the summer nights in town. Traditional Portuguese villages are very welcoming so expect to be noticed! Alcácer do Sal has plenty of pharmacies and a health clinic that is open 24 hours. There are two hospitals around 40 minutes away. Lisbon is around an hour's drive from us.
dates & feesProgram Dates 2025: August 4-22
Fee: US$ 3,150 Program Fees Include: Full room and board (except lunch during excursions) Fieldwork training Excursions and other activities Transportation to and from airport on first and last days of the program Daily transport to the site Medical Insurance Application fee Administrative costs Certificate for 120 hours Part of your fee will go toward the research project. Fees DO NOT include airfare.
Travel Arrangements:
You can start making travel arrangements as soon as your place in the group is reserved, but you should not complete them until being notified of your selection. We strongly recommend that participants purchase travel insurance to cover all needs including medical, accident, baggage loss, delays and personal liability. ArchaeoSpain is not a travel provider nor is a registered travel agent. Your travel arrangements to and from Portugal are subject to the terms and conditions of your travel agency. In the rare event that the program is cancelled, ArchaeoSpain will refund program fees, but is not responsible for non-refundable airline or other tickets or payments or any similar penalties that may be incurred. It is your responsibility to protect yourself against airline and travel agency cancellation fees Medical Insurance: All ArchaeoSpain participants are covered with an insurance packet that provides medical, surgical treatment, and prescription drugs in case of accident or sudden illness. With your program packet we will send you more details regarding this coverage, but you may contact our staff for more information. European students should bring an EHIC card with them. Right of Refusal: ArchaeoSpain reserves the right to refuse an applicant. This is a rare occurrence and is most likely due to a person’s inability to meet health requirements or in the interest of group compatibility. Once in the field, the program director and ArchaeoSpain reserve the right to send a participant away from the program should that person’s behavior compromise the safety, research objectives, or general performance of the group, or violate Portuguese laws, regulations or customs. the staffSITE DIRECTORS
excursions
Setubal
Setúbal is known to be a city of good fish, especially sardines! We will visit the Fortress of S. Luís and enjoy the city center, with time for some shopping or a movie. Lisbon is the capital of Portugal and the 2023 World Travel Awards voted it the best city to visit. We will explore the Sao Jorge Castle and the Roman theater as a group, but you will have the afternoon to yourselves for shopping, museums, and the rest of the city.
We will meet in the afternoon at the Fábrica da Nata bakery to taste the city's most-famous pastry, Pastéis de Nata, and then return to our villa in Alcácer do Sal. Alcácer do Sal - Pedro Nunes Archaeological Museum and city center.
Archaeological crypt, the clock tower, and the Roman forum. Comporta Village and Beach
Comporta is the fanciest beach village in Portugal so expect some luxury shops combined with the typical blue and white Alentejo houses. We will visit the rice museum and walk around the village, and we will have a picnic on the beach. application |