Archaeologists in Faro, southern Portugal, have unearthed a captivating glimpse into the past with the discovery of three ancient burials dating back to the 5th or 6th century AD in the historic Roman city of Ossónoba.
Ossónoba, with its roots tracing back to the 4th century B.C. when Phoenician settlers first arrived in the Western Mediterranean, holds a rich tapestry of history. From Roman and Visigoth dominance to Muslim conquests in 713, the city’s heritage spans centuries of cultural exchange and evolution.
The recent excavations, led by a team from ERA Arqueologia, uncovered Roman structures and the remains of three individuals—a man, a young woman, and a baby—in a 5,000 square meter area earmarked for real estate development. The graves, believed to date from the 5th or 6th century, shed light on the lives and burial practices of inhabitants from a bygone era.
The complete skeleton of a middle-aged man, estimated to be between 39 and 45 years old, was found alongside a young woman under 25 and an infant no more than six months old. These carefully constructed graves, indicative of some economic status, hint at a level of care and reverence in their burial rites.
Anthropologist Cláudia Maio noted evidence of looting in the past, with missing artifacts like bracelets, necklaces, and rings. Despite this, the intact graves and proximity of the burials suggest familial ties, although definitive conclusions await further analysis.
DNA tests and isotopic analysis techniques offer promising avenues for delving deeper into these ancient lives, unraveling population movements and dietary habits from chemical traces in the skeletal remains. This multidisciplinary approach promises to enrich our understanding of societal structures and cultural practices in ancient Ossónoba.
The unexpected location of these graves within an area previously associated with residential or industrial activities adds a layer of intrigue, highlighting the dynamic nature of urban development and the shifting landscapes of ancient cities. The discovery also complements previous findings, including a Roman game artifact from the first century AD, underscoring the archaeological richness of the region.
The artifacts recovered, ranging from ceramics and bone dice to coins from the reign of Constantine the Great, offer tantalizing glimpses into daily life, trade, and craftsmanship in Roman-era Ossónoba. Each discovery adds a piece to the puzzle of the city’s history, illustrating its growth, decline, and enduring legacy in the annals of antiquity.