The Boca do Rio necropolis
The archaeology of death of a coastal community in Roman times
João Pedro Bernardes
In the summer of 2016 we excavated, with the support of the AAA, some graves of the Roman necropolis of the Boca do Rio. The date of the tombs of these roman people, who inhabited this fishing archaeological site, is the III and IV centuries.
Nine graves were dug, being the oldest of incineration and the others eight of inhumation. Just 3 graves presented osteological remains once the limestone destroyed the others human skeletons. Among the graves that showed osteological remains, only one, whose body was deposited within lands with less lime content, allowed to collect a complete skeleton - a woman aged between 30 and 40 years.
We can date the grave, by its type and associated materials, from the second half of the 3rd century until the end of the 4th century or early 5th century. The incineration grave is of the second half of the 3rd century and was the one that provided more materials: a coin, a lamp, a small vase and a bowl of terra sigillata imported from current Tunisia. Around this first grave will build several burial graves dug into the rock and made up of tiles (tegulae).
The second tomb with human bones was excavated in the rock and just save in poor condition a few long bones and the skull. Behind the skull was collected a coin with traces of tissue which should belong to the shroud that enveloped the body.
The third grave with bones is richer. It was excavated a box with 7 roman feet long by 3.5 (2, 1 m x 1, 05 m) into the rock, which was then covered with opus signinum (cement). This grave already announces the Christian sarcophagi, frequent from the 4th century. Here detected only the skull of an individual who was buried in a wooden coffin from which it was possible to collect nails and fragments of wood. At his feet was a glass bottle. This grave, with a NE-SW direction, was the one who demanded more investment in its construction.
The excavated graves fit in a period of transition between the latest incineration and total and definitive burial, typical of the Christian period. The anthropological analysis of the only full skeleton revealed some deformations of the bones due to the heavy work on the site. The analysed teeth revealed a very large wear, which seems to be related to the use of the mouth as a third hand. Studies in Roman skeletons of Faro reveal the same pathology, which was associated with the use of teeth at work with nets and fishing wire.
João Pedro Bernardes is graduate in History (Variant in Archaeology) by the University of Coimbra (1985) and post-graduate (M Phil in1996, PhD in 2002), with a dissertation about the Roman Settlement in Leiria region (Portugal). He teached disciplines of Archaeology and Ancient History at the University of Azores. Since 1997, he teaches at University of Algarve disciplines as History of the Classical Culture and Classical Archaeology, where he is associate professor. He was director of the Department of History, Archaeology and Cultural Heritage of the University of Algarve.
He directed archaeological excavations in the country, but over all in the region of Leiria and Algarve. He made missions of research in the German Archaeological Institute of Rome, in the Center Pierre Paris of the University of Bordéus III, or in the archaeological Institute of Southampton University. He was member of History and archaeology board of Phd and Pos-doc grants evaluation for the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (Portuguese Foundation for the Science ant Technology - FCT). Currently, he is member of the Panel for the evaluation of Multiannual Projects of Archaeology submitted to the Portuguese Government.
He has published papers in national and international journals, proceedings of scientific meetings and books, most of all on Roman Archaeology. He has developed and coordinated National and international Research Projects. Recently he coordinated a study entitled “Cultural Heritage and Territory” about the Portuguese Cultural Heritage Classified ordered by Government of Portugal (Secretary of State for Culture), under Portuguese Studies plan for the culture of the European strategic framework 2014-2020.
Nine graves were dug, being the oldest of incineration and the others eight of inhumation. Just 3 graves presented osteological remains once the limestone destroyed the others human skeletons. Among the graves that showed osteological remains, only one, whose body was deposited within lands with less lime content, allowed to collect a complete skeleton - a woman aged between 30 and 40 years.
We can date the grave, by its type and associated materials, from the second half of the 3rd century until the end of the 4th century or early 5th century. The incineration grave is of the second half of the 3rd century and was the one that provided more materials: a coin, a lamp, a small vase and a bowl of terra sigillata imported from current Tunisia. Around this first grave will build several burial graves dug into the rock and made up of tiles (tegulae).
The second tomb with human bones was excavated in the rock and just save in poor condition a few long bones and the skull. Behind the skull was collected a coin with traces of tissue which should belong to the shroud that enveloped the body.
The third grave with bones is richer. It was excavated a box with 7 roman feet long by 3.5 (2, 1 m x 1, 05 m) into the rock, which was then covered with opus signinum (cement). This grave already announces the Christian sarcophagi, frequent from the 4th century. Here detected only the skull of an individual who was buried in a wooden coffin from which it was possible to collect nails and fragments of wood. At his feet was a glass bottle. This grave, with a NE-SW direction, was the one who demanded more investment in its construction.
The excavated graves fit in a period of transition between the latest incineration and total and definitive burial, typical of the Christian period. The anthropological analysis of the only full skeleton revealed some deformations of the bones due to the heavy work on the site. The analysed teeth revealed a very large wear, which seems to be related to the use of the mouth as a third hand. Studies in Roman skeletons of Faro reveal the same pathology, which was associated with the use of teeth at work with nets and fishing wire.
João Pedro Bernardes is graduate in History (Variant in Archaeology) by the University of Coimbra (1985) and post-graduate (M Phil in1996, PhD in 2002), with a dissertation about the Roman Settlement in Leiria region (Portugal). He teached disciplines of Archaeology and Ancient History at the University of Azores. Since 1997, he teaches at University of Algarve disciplines as History of the Classical Culture and Classical Archaeology, where he is associate professor. He was director of the Department of History, Archaeology and Cultural Heritage of the University of Algarve.
He directed archaeological excavations in the country, but over all in the region of Leiria and Algarve. He made missions of research in the German Archaeological Institute of Rome, in the Center Pierre Paris of the University of Bordéus III, or in the archaeological Institute of Southampton University. He was member of History and archaeology board of Phd and Pos-doc grants evaluation for the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (Portuguese Foundation for the Science ant Technology - FCT). Currently, he is member of the Panel for the evaluation of Multiannual Projects of Archaeology submitted to the Portuguese Government.
He has published papers in national and international journals, proceedings of scientific meetings and books, most of all on Roman Archaeology. He has developed and coordinated National and international Research Projects. Recently he coordinated a study entitled “Cultural Heritage and Territory” about the Portuguese Cultural Heritage Classified ordered by Government of Portugal (Secretary of State for Culture), under Portuguese Studies plan for the culture of the European strategic framework 2014-2020.
