Domestic architecture of harbour areas: the Late Antique houses of the Port Suburb of Tarraco

Abstract

Research interest in the late antique urban housing of Hispania has increased in recent years. Several studies on newly excavated houses but also on already known examples have been published, providing new insights on this topic. At Tarraco, the numerous urban excavations of the last decades uncovered a large quarter linked to the harbour area, known as the 'port suburb'. This paper examines the houses located in this sector, focusing on their architectural layout, constructive techniques and possible functions of the spaces. Based on their different features and chronology, the examples presented fall into two groups: the late Roman houses, which followed the architectural designs of Roman tradition; and the post-Roman houses, showing a much simplified layout and reduced size. The paper finally compares both groups to address the question of the evolution of domestic architecture in Late Antiquity.

Full text

ABITARE NEL MEDITERRANEO
TARDOANTICO
Atti del III Convegno Internazionale del Centro Interuniversitario
di Studi sull’Edilizia abitativa tardoantica nel Mediterraneo (CISEM)
(Bologna 28-31 ottobre 2019)
a cura di
Isabella Baldini e Carla Sfameni
Bari 2021
Centro Interuniversitario di Studi
sull’Edilizia abitativa tardoantica nel Mediterraneo
E S T R A T T O
Insulae Diomedeae
Collana di ricerche storiche e archeologiche
42
ISSN 2352-5574
ISBN 978-88-7228-964-8
DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.4475/964

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Introduction
A few years ago J. Arce, A. Chavarría and G. Ripoll drew
attention to the lack of studies about late antique housing in
Hispania 1. This circumstance has fortunately begun to be
redressed, and much research on this issue has been devel-
oped since then 2. However, a specific study on the late an-
tique houses of Tarraco is still needed. This paper aims to
contribute to this topic by analysing a number of unpublished
houses 3coming from the most recently excavated sector of
the city, the harbour area.
As Rome’s gateway to the Iberian Peninsula since early
Roman times, and capital of the largest province in the west-
ern Mediterranean afterwards (Hispania Tarraconensis),
Tarraco developed an extensive harbour area over the cen-
turies. This zone was in a natural bay located to the south of
a coastal hill and protected by two promontories, but rapidly
expanded to the western plain next to the Francolí River (fig.
1). It thus reached an extension of ca. 8-10 ha 4, which was
approximately a tenth of the urbanised area of the Roman
town.
For the late antique period, most archaeological remains
come from the western sector of the harbour area, known as
the ‘port suburb’. The suburb was discovered by urban ex-
cavations carried out between the 1990s and the first decades
of the 21st century5. This finding widened the previous image
of the suburban areas of Tarraco during Late Antiquity,
which was mainly limited to the so-called ‘Francolí early-
Christian complex’ discovered and first excavated in the
1930s 6. New research on the late antique phase of the port
suburb is indeed demonstrating its urban vitality as the eco-
nomic hub of the city up until the late 7th and early 8th cen-
turies 7.
Late Roman houses
As part of this urban vitality, particularly from the be-
ginning of the 5th century, several houses were newly built in
the port suburb. In this section, we examine the earlier hous-
ing examples, which still followed the architectural designs
of Roman tradition. However, their overall layout was de-
termined by the urban setting and, to a great extent, adapted
to the remains of previous structures.
At the north-eastern sector of the suburb – on the corner
of the current Eivissa and Pere Martell streets – it has been
located a house characterised by the presence of a large
1Arce, Chavarría, Ripoll 2007.
2The domestic architecture of Emerita is particularly well-known
thanks to the publications of Alba (1999 and 2005) and more recently
of Corrales (2012 and 2016). Studies on certain houses have been con-
ducted at Emporiae (Nolla and Tremoleda 2014, 45-53), Barcino
(Cortés 2011), Carthago Nova (Ramallo et alii 2013, 37-39) and His-
palis (Amores and González 2006; García 2012, 900-907). An overall
analysis of late antique urban housing in Hispania can be found in Ra-
mallo (2001) and Perich (2014). Furthermore, the domestic architec-
ture of Visigothic and early medieval settlements has been studied at
El Bolavar (Palol 1999; Fortuny, Macias and Tuset in this volume), El
Tolmo de Minateda (Gutiérrez and Cañavete 2010) and the Madrid
area (Vigil-Escalera 2015), among others. Likewise, Vizcaíno (2007,
387-403) offers a thorough approach to this issue at the Hispanic ter-
ritories under Byzantine control.
3A detailed stratigraphic analysis of these houses can be found in
a recent PhD dissertation (Lasheras 2018), while a complete descrip-
tion of the excavations sites is provided by the corresponding archae-
ological reports (Pociña, Remolà and García 2001 and Pociña 2009).
4Macias et alii 2007, 8.
5Adserias, Pociña and Remolà 2000; Remolà and Sánchez 2010.
6The knowledge about the Francolí early-Christian complex has
been broadened by recent excavations and studies. For the matter of
this paper, it should be mentioned the existence of two domus within
the complex (Serra 1935, 9ff; del Amo 1979, 31-32; López 2006, 67ff),
which will not be included in the discussion due to space reasons.
7Lasheras and Terrado 2015; Díaz and Roig 2016; Rodríguez and
Macias 2016; Lasheras 2017, 2018; Remolà and Lasheras 2018, 2019;
Rodríguez and Macias in press.
435
Domestic architecture of harbour areas:
the Late Antique houses of the Port Suburb of Tarraco
by Ada Lasheras González*, Karen Fortuny Mendo*
* Institut Català d’Arqueologia Clàssica, Tarragona (alasheras@icac.cat (kfortuny@icac.cat)
Abstract
L’interesse dei ricercatori verso l’edilizia residenziale in territorio spagnolo è molto cresciuto negli ultimi anni. Sono stati pubblicati nu-
merosi studi su dimore recentemente indagate ma anche su altre già conosciute, fornendo nuovi spunti sull’argomento. A Tarragona le
molteplici indagini condotte in area urbana negli ultimi venti anni hanno portato alla scoperta di un ampio quartiere connesso con l’area
portale, il “suburbio del porto”. Il presente contributo esamina le dimore ubicate in questo settore, focalizzandosi sulla loro architettura,
sulle tecniche costruttive e sulle possibili funzioni degli ambienti. Basandosi sulle loro differenti caratteristiche e cronologie, gli esempi
presentati si suddividono in due gruppi: le case tardo romane, che seguono nell’aspetto la tradizione romana; le case post-romane, che
mostrano un aspetto più semplice e dimensioni minori. Il contributo, infine, mette a confronto i due gruppi per affrontare la questione del-
l’evoluzione dell’architettura domestica nella tarda antichità.
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436
Ada Lasheras González - Karen Fortuny Mendo
apsed room (fig. 1.1). This house was built in the late 4th cen-
tury or the beginning of the 5th century at the crossroads of
two perpendicular streets, and it shows signs of continuous
occupation until the late 5th century. Although the total sur-
face area could not be excavated, the preserved remains
measured over 190 m2and correspond to eight rooms, four
of which have been identified as the domestic baths (fig. 2).
The most distinguished room of the house was the apsed
one (no. 1), situated in proximity to both streets. The rele-
vance of this room is attested not only by its size (the inner
space was at least 13 m long and probably more than 5 m
wide 8) but also by its decoration, which consisted of a mo-
saic pavement and marble panels on the walls. The presence
of an opus signinum floor next to the mosaic could either in-
dicate the existence of another room to the east, or some kind
of spatial distinction. Even though the entrances have not
been preserved, the main access to this room was likely on
the eastern side, opening into the north-south street. Like-
wise, we suggest the existence of a second door, presumably
connecting to the northern rooms (no. 2-4). The complete ar-
chitectural layout of those rooms is unknown, but the strati-
graphic analysis confirms that they were remodelled over
time.
The baths were located at the western sector and partly
encroached upon the east-west street, which continued in use
at least until the late 6th century regardless of this. The main
room (no. 6) had a rectangular plan (3,70 m per 7,30 m) and
was probably accessed from the northern one (no. 5). Two
more rooms were located on the southern side: a small quad-
rangular room (c. 1,6 m each side) to the east (no. 7), con-
nected with the main space; and a possible apsed room to
the west (no. 8), which has only been attested by a small wall
8It should be noted that the eastern and southern walls of this room
were lost. Moreover, the southern wall would have been constructed
over an early Roman fountain, which was disused and completely cov-
ered by this moment (Remolà and Pociña 2004). The stratigraphy at
this sector is therefore rather complicated and it has been difficult to
fully understand all the archaeological remains.
1. - Location and archaeological plan of the ‘port suburb’ of Tarraco (after Macias et alii 2007 and Lasheras 2018): 1. Late Roman house on the
corner of Eivissa and Pere Martell streets; 2. Late Roman house on the corner of Pere Martell and Felip Pedrell streets; 3. Post-Roman house on
the corner of Eivissa and Pere Martell streets; 4. Post-Roman house at Smith street.
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section. The sewage system consisted of a north-south con-
duit, which was linked to the southern rooms through lead
pipes placed within the walls for evacuating wastewater.
Different building techniques have been identified in the
various rooms of this house. The walls of rooms 1 to 4 were
constructed with rubble stones and recycled materials
bonded with lime mortar and had 0,4-0,5 m width. In con-
trast, the rooms corresponding to the baths showed thicker
walls (0,5-0,7 m width) and were made of rubble stones and
mortar in a larger quantity (opus caementicium) (fig. 3). The
use of recycled materials at this sector of the house is indeed
only attested for renovations and later walls. As for the
floors, they were mainly made of opus signinum both at the
baths and the eastern rooms.
Since this is a partially excavated building, it is difficult
to define the function of each room. However, architectural
layout, location and the finding of significant objects at some
spaces have provided us with salient clues. The architectural
and decorative features of room no. 1 are arguably those of
a distinctive space, which could function as a reception
room 9. This proposal is supported by its proximity to both
the streets and the domestic baths, another key feature of this
437
Domestic architecture of harbour areas: the Late Antique houses of the Port Suburb of Tarraco
9A mortared half-rounded edge has been found at the joint between
the mosaic and the marble panels, which may indicate some need for
waterproofing. However, due to stratigraphic difficulties, it is unclear
if this corresponds to later renovations and if the room may have
changed its original function over time.
2. - Archaeological plan of the late Roman house located on the corner of Eivissa and Pere Martell streets (after Pociña, Remolà and García 2001
and Lasheras 2018).
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kind of rooms10. The northern rooms (no. 2-4) remain largely
unknown, although the record of spindle whorls and bone
pins, as well as glass vessels, and cooking and coarse wares
suggest the development of domestic activities there. As re-
gards to the baths, the distribution and plan of the rooms
seem to indicate that no. 6 could function as an apody-
terium/frigidarium, attached to a little pool of cold water (no.
7), while the apsis of room no. 8 may be evidence of the lo-
cation of warmer rooms to the west.
Another house was newly built c. 100 m to the south –
corresponding to the corner of Pere Martell and Felip Pe-
drell streets – by the mid-5th century or slightly after, while
the final occupation phase can be dated to the mid-6th (fig.
1.2). As in the previous example, the total surface of this
house exceeded the limits of the excavation. However, a total
of seven rooms have been identified, together measuring c.
200 m2. The best preserved area comprises the domestic
baths, which were partly situated over one of the major
streets of the suburb, known as the maritime or port road (fig.
4).
Despite the lack of archaeological remains, it seems pos-
sible that this house had an entrance on the southern side,
connected to the main east-west road. The appearance of this
space is completely unknown, but the layout of earlier struc-
tures11 suggest that it could have had the form of a long cor-
ridor (no. 1), a design solution attested at the entrances of
other urban houses such as the Domus del Protiro at Ostia12
or the Late Roman Townhouse at Sardis 13. This passage
would have opened to another corridor (no. 2) surrounding
a probable open-air space (no. 3), which had a small rectan-
gular plan (2 m per 5 m). There is little evidence about the
location of the doors in this area, but the shape of the re-
maining walls suggests the presence of one to the north and
another to the west.
The baths were situated at the south-western sector and
were probably also connected to the central corridor (no. 2),
as the northern water conduit suggests. Similarly to the first
house presented, they partly encroached upon the east-west
road. Stratigraphy confirms, however, that several new pave-
ments were laid even after this construction, attesting the
continued use of this road until the 7th century. The baths
were articulated around room no. 4, which was a big rectan-
gular room (4,7 m per at least 8 m) characterised by the pres-
ence of two conduits for evacuating wastewater. From this
main space both rooms no. 5 and 6 could be entered. The
first (no. 5) was a small quadrangular room (c. 1,7 m each
side) located to the south, while no. 6 was a bigger apsed
room (3 m per 4,4 m) that gave access to an analogous space
to the south (no. 7). Moreover, they were provided with a
hypocaust heating system which communicated with the
southern praefurnium. The sewage system was also located
at this southern point, consisting of a basin for collecting
wastewater and an east-west conduit which is only partially
preserved.
As regards the building techniques, differences between
the baths and the northern sector have been attested as well,
although in this case, the walls of the two areas showed an
average width of 0,5 m. Rubble stones, recycled materials
and lime mortar were employed for the construction of the
northern rooms (no. 2-3). The floors at this sector were
made of opus signinum, placed over a preparatory layer
formed by pebbles and mortar. In this sense, the presence of
such a base extending over the southern limit of the open-air
438
Ada Lasheras González - Karen Fortuny Mendo
10 Ellis 1988, 569ff; Özgenel 2007, 252-9; Uytterhoeven 2007, 54.
11 A great part of this house was built over an early Roman ware-
house (see fig. 3). Thus, it seems likely that the entrance area would
have been constructed on the top of the foundations of the previous
building, as was the case of the eastern wall of room no. 2.
12 Boersma et alii 1985, fig. 5; Saliou 1994, fig. 26.
13 Rautman 1995; Özgenel 2007, fig. 4a.
3. - Construction techniques of late Roman houses. Above: elevation
depicting the use of mortar depending on the room function at the
house on the corner of Eivissa and Pere Martell streets (after Pociña,
Remolà and García 2001). Below: detail of a wall constructed over a
previous building at the house on the corner of Pere Martell and Felip
Pedrell streets (CODEX - Arqueologia i Patrimoni).
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439
4. - Archaeological plan of the late Roman house situated on the corner of Pere Martell and Felip Pedrell streets (after Pociña, Remolà and García
2001and Lasheras 2018).
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space no. 3 may correspond to a renovation of the water in-
stallations. Despite the limited archaeological evidence, it
appears that this central space (no. 3) would have been a
small water tank, delimited by low walls and pillars at the
corners. Overflow water would have been drained through
the north-south conduit that crossed the corridor (no. 2). In
a later phase, the southern wall would have been demol-
ished and presumably, a decorative water basin would have
been placed there, which would have been connected to the
same conduit.
The walls of the baths were constructed with rubble
stones bonded with a great quantity of mortar (opus cae-
menticium). This construction technique is also used for later
walls, as those reinforcing room no. 7 and the praefurnium.
The floors have been only attested at rooms no. 4 and 5. The
southern one (no. 5) had an opus signinum pavement and its
walls also preserved a waterproofing coat made of the same
material. At room no. 4 three types of pavement have been
identified, corresponding to successive renovations: the first
pavement was made with large bricks (bipedales); the floor
was afterwards renewed with bricks of smaller size
(bessalis); and, finally, the space was paved with opus sign-
inum. It seems likely that the conduit bordering the northern
and eastern walls was built during this last phase, although
stratigraphy confirms that the north-south conduit was in use
until the latest occupation phase. There was indeed a dis-
tinctive element related to this canal, which consisted of a
marble block (measuring 0,49 m each side) with an incised
geometric flower that functioned as part of the drainage sys-
tem.
The archaeological evidence just described and the over-
all architectural composition of this house are the available
elements for analysing the function of the rooms. Thus, the
plan layout of rooms no. 2 and 3 suggest that they formed a
small courtyard. The water installations support this proposal
since they were commonly placed at peristyle courtyards for
embellishment and as a sign of status and luxury 14. Water
tanks and basins have been also attested at several late an-
tique houses, such as the Maison aux Consoles at Apamea15,
the Late Roman Townhouse at Sardis16 or the Residence on
the Lycian Acropolis at Xanthos 17. A further display of
wealth was the incorporation of private baths, which show a
similar architectural layout to those of the first house pre-
sented. The main room (no. 4) would probably have func-
tioned as an apodyterium/frigidarium, which opened to a
small pool of cold water (no. 5). To the west, the main room
was connected to the warmer rooms (no. 6-7), interpreted as
caldaria or as a tepidarium and a caldarium 18. Lastly, the
location of the praefurnia and wastewater infrastructures in
the south-western sector indicates that this was the service
area.
Post-Roman houses
Further housing examples have been identified at the port
suburb. They were built in post-Roman times – i.e. under
Visigothic rule –, providing additional proof of the vitality of
this sector throughout the late antique period. The architec-
tural layout of the houses in this section, however, shows
significant differences compared to those of the earlier pe-
riod described above.
At the north-eastern sector of the suburb, only 4 m to the
west of the first house presented, it has been located a house
dating from the late 5th or early 6th century and abandoned in
the second half of the 6th century at the latest (fig. 1.3). It
was placed next to the north-south street but there is no ev-
idence of an entrance opening to this road, although it was in
use until at least the late 6th century. Thus, the main access
may have been on the eastern side, probably reached through
a secondary passage. The house itself had an inner area of
29,5 m2divided into two spaces forming an L-shape. These
rooms were not communicated with each other but con-
nected with an outdoor space where a pavement has been at-
tested, suggesting that this space played a part in the
household routine, as it has been often attested in other ex-
amples of the same period19. Moreover, on the northern side
of room no. 1 there is evidence of a possible pavement base
made of pebbles, which may indicate that the building would
have extended northwards (fig. 5).
As for the constructive techniques, the walls were of rub-
ble masonry bounded with poor lime and had an average
width of 0,5 m. For the western wall were employed reused
materials, as well as some big stone blocks placed at irregu-
lar distances and which probably came from previous build-
ings as well (fig. 6). Such big stone blocks were also used in
the 1,20 m wide threshold of the southern space (no. 2). The
entrance of room no. 1 has not been preserved, but it would
probably have been located in the lost wall segment. The
pavements were made of clay plaster at the indoor spaces
and beaten earth at the open-air area. Regarding the roof, it
is likely that it was made of organic material since the num-
ber of tile fragments recovered is scarce.
Use and function of the rooms can only be approached
through the archaeological material found in each one. The
most significant remains have been attested at room no. 2: a
hearth made of tiles, a stone structure that may have served
as a storage space and a stone block presumably used for
14 Özgenel 2007, 248-249; Uytterhoeven 2014, 431-432.
15 Balty 1984; Saliou 1994, 102-103.
16 Rautman 1995, 54.
17 Manière-Lévêque 2007, 482-483.
18 García-Entero 2005, 267-268.
19 Gutiérrez 2012, 146.
440
Ada Lasheras González - Karen Fortuny Mendo
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supporting a table or working surface 20. Moreover, a signif-
icant number of ceramics and glass tableware has been reg-
istered at the occupation layers. The evidence thus suggests
that domestic activities would be held here. On the contrary,
the lack of material remains in room no. 1 hinders the defi-
nition of its function, although it seems
probable that it served as an additional
space for storage or even productive
activities.
An example of a rather later date
has been located at the south-western
sector of the harbour area, currently
corresponding to Smith street. This
house was built in the 7th century over
the maritime road, which seems to in-
dicate that this street may have fallen
in disuse by this time. The building
consisted of three spaces arranged in a
row and had an inner surface of 59 m2,
but the central room (no. 1) was much
bigger than the rest (measuring 44 m2).
Despite the lack of evidence about the
internal circulation as any of the ac-
cesses is preserved, it seems likely that
the three spaces were connected di-
rectly with an unknown front area that
exceeded the limits of the excavation,
but it would probably have had a do-
mestic use. However, the shape of the
wall between rooms no. 1 and 2 may
suggest that they could be directly con-
nected (fig. 7).
The central and eastern rooms (no.
1 and 3) were built of masonry and
lime mortar (measuring an average
width of 0,5-0,6 m), but big blocks
were also placed at the corners for re-
inforcement. The northern wall of
room no. 3 did not follow the same axis
as the central one because it was con-
structed on top of a previous structure.
The floor of the central space (no. 1)
was made of clay laid over a prepara-
tory layer, while the eastern one (no. 3)
had an opus signinum pavement. On
the other hand, room no. 2 presents
some constructive differences: the
walls were thicker (0,65 m wide) and
in contrast to the other rooms no mor-
tar was used for their construction. They were made of rub-
ble stones and clay, and reused materials were employed as
well. The pavement was just one layer of clay plaster, with-
out preparation. These different features suggest that room
no. 2 would have been attached to the central space (no. 1)
during the second phase of construction. Room no. 1 was in-
deed remodelled in a later phase when a short north-south
wall and an associated stone block were presumably added
to divide the space. Some changes have been also attested at
20 Similar structures have been found in El Tolmo de Minateda
(Gutiérrez 2000, 157) and El Bovalar (Fortuny, Macias and Tuset in
this volume).
441
Domestic architecture of harbour areas: the Late Antique houses of the Port Suburb of Tarraco
5. - Archaeological plan of the post-Roman house found on the corner of Eivissa and Pere Martell
streets (after Pociña, Remolà and García 2001 and Lasheras 2018).
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room no. 3, where the opus signinum pavement was replaced
by a raised floor to match the circulation level of room no.
1. Likewise, it is very likely that the newer eastern wall of
room no. 3 was built at this moment.
The western room (no. 2) is the one with the clearest do-
mestic function, because of the presence of a hearth and the
finding of tableware pottery and amphorae. The function of
rooms no. 1 and 3 during its final occupation remains un-
known due to the lack of archaeological remains. However,
the recovery of a significant number of amphorae fragments
and a large set of ceramics and glass tableware in the previ-
ous pavement of room no. 1 may indicate that it was used
for storage. Likewise, the presence of an opus signinum floor
at room no. 3 suggests the development of productive activ-
ities.
Conclusions
The set of houses presented in this paper should only be
regarded as a reflection on a small scale of the dynamics fol-
lowed by the domestic architecture of the harbour area of
Tarraco during Late Antiquity. The number of examples
considered here is rather small for inferring any bold state-
ment about the general evolution of late antique housing in
the Mediterranean basin. However, it is interesting to note
that several features observed in the cases studied coincide
with the broad trends of the residential architecture of this
period.
As part of the urban landscape of
one of the most dynamic and densely
occupied areas of Tarraco, the analysed
houses had to adapt their overall layout
to the existing urban setting, and most
of them were indeed constructed over
former buildings and infrastructures.
But great differences have been at-
tested in the way they accomplished
that, becoming particularly evident
when assessing the different degrees in
which these houses interacted with and
altered the street network. Despite the
lack of preserved accesses, archaeo-
logical evidence suggests that late
Roman houses had a direct connection
with the main roads of this sector.
Moreover, even when these buildings
partially encroached upon them,
stratigraphy confirms the continued use
of these streets until the late 6th century
and, in some cases, throughout much of
the 7th century.
Concerning the post-Roman hous-
es, the earlier example – located on the
442
Ada Lasheras González - Karen Fortuny Mendo
6. - Construction techniques of post-Roman houses. Above: elevation
depicting a wall of rubble masonry bounded with poor lime, and a
threshold made of stone blocks at the house on the corner of Eivissa
and Pere Martell streets (after Pociña, Remolà and García 2001).
Below: detail of reused material in the masonry of the same house
(CODEX - Arqueologia i Patrimoni).
7. - Archaeological plan of the post-Roman house located at Smith street (after Pociña 2009 and
Lasheras 2018).
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corner of Eivissa and Pere Martell streets – coexisted and
respected the street nearby, but it was not directly connect-
ed to it. On the contrary, the 7th -century house found at
Smith street was built directly over and in the middle of the
maritime road, indicating the outset of the dismantling of
the early Imperial road system and urban setting 21. It thus
becomes clear that the transformation of the former urban
fabric ran in parallel to the development of a new relation
between private and public spheres, which was also reflect-
ed in the domestic architecture22. Furthermore, this concep-
tual shift leads us to accordingly reconsider how the inter-
action between public areas and the private – or semi-pri-
vate – open-air spaces linked to the domestic units worked.
Despite the space constrictions of the urban context, the
late Roman houses of the port suburb of Tarraco managed to
follow the architectural designs of Roman tradition. These
showed a great diversity of spaces, which were generally
arranged around singular rooms – for instance, the distinc-
tive apsed room and the possible courtyard in the examples
described – and had multiple accesses to connect them. The
baths were also a significant part of these houses, denoting
the importance of bathing tradition in the late antique socie-
ty. Besides, the possession of private baths was not only a
way in which the owner displayed his wealth, but also
played a significant role within the social gatherings of the
urban elites23. But ultimately the development of such com-
plex architectural designs indicates the interest of the
wealthy families of Tarraco to follow the Roman cultural
symbols, which during the late antique period also implied
“the absorption of a variety of public functions” into high-
status housing 24.
The overall layout of the post-Roman houses was much
more simplified and the spaces showed reduced sizes and
less variety in their shape. The rooms were mainly placed in
a row, sharing walls but usually without connection between
them, which means that circulation was done through an
open-air space loosely defined. Daily life activities would
have been conducted in this kind of courtyards, as has been
proved by the presence of a pavement in this area at the 6th-
century house. In this sense, the small number of rooms im-
plies that different activities would have occurred in the same
spaces. However, the latter example presented seems to have
developed a greater degree of functional distinction since the
features of one of the rooms indicate that it was probably
used for productive activities. This may point to a tendency
towards functional specialisation, which has been attested as
a usual trend in many early medieval settlements of the Iber-
ian Peninsula 25.
Some differences have been also identified with regard to
the construction techniques. Yet it is worth mentioning that
the use of recycled materials was quite usual in both groups,
which should not be surprising in an urban context with such
a continuous and dense occupation. The major difference be-
tween the two groups is the use of lime mortar, being much
more frequent in the earlier examples. However, the em-
ployment of this material cannot be only linked to chronol-
ogy, but also to the function of the spaces. While in some spaces
it was unnecessary to employ great quantities of mortar, there
is no doubt about the convenience of this material in bathing
structures. At the examples presented, it was used in the opus
caementicium walls as well as for waterproofing coats. Instead,
the mortar employed in the post-Roman houses was of poor-
er quality. Further differences can be also noticed in the pave-
ments, as opus signinumfloors were more common in the first
group, while at the second they were mainly made of clay plas-
ter or beaten earth. Finally, the disparity in construction re-
sources is also denoted by the presence – or not – of water
systems and decorative features. Thus, the overall evidence
suggests that the building process of late Roman houses re-
quired skilled labour, while post-Roman houses seem to re-
flect a tendency towards self-sufficiency.
The late antique houses of the port suburb of Tarraco pro-
vide a study case of great value for analysing the develop-
ment of domestic architecture within the Mediterranean
urban contexts. The examples presented have allowed us to
identify two main trends concerning architectural designs
and building techniques. Housing in the late Roman period
– mainly dated from the 5th century – was characterised by
an evident continuity of the architectural features of Roman
tradition, even when adapted to the previous urban struc-
tures. Post-Roman housing – dated between the late 5th and
the 7th centuries – showed a profound simplification of the
architectonic layout instead, which implied major differences
in daily life activities. However, the slight coexistence in
time of both groups raises questions about the social and cul-
tural meaning of such changes in domestic spaces. Even if
we are presumably dealing with social groups of different
status, the reasons for the development of this new house
type are yet to be fully understood. Answering those ques-
tions requires further and wider studies, since the trends in
post-Roman domestic architecture illustrated by the exam-
ples presented spread throughout the Iberian Peninsula par-
ticularly from the 6th century. But the interest in the study
case offered by the port suburb of Tarraco lies precisely in
evidencing the coexistence of both building traditions at the
turning point in which the Roman house was ending and the
post-Roman house arose.
21 Lasheras 2018, 664 and 681.
22 Gutiérrez 2000, 156.
23 Uytterhoeven 2007, 54.
24 Ellis 1988, 569.
25 Gutiérrez 2012, 148ff.
443
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ABITARE NEL MEDITERRANEO TARDOANTICO - CISEMIII - ISBN 9788872289648 - ISSN 2352-5574 - © 2021 Edipuglia srl - www. edipuglia.it

444
Ada Lasheras González - Karen Fortuny Mendo
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ABITARE NEL MEDITERRANEO TARDOANTICO - CISEMIII - ISBN 9788872289648 - ISSN 2352-5574 - © 2021 Edipuglia srl - www. edipuglia.it

Introduzione
di Isabella Baldini e Carla Sfameni
SIRIA
Vivere nelle dimore tardoantiche del Massiccio Calcareo siriano
di Elia Essa Kas Hanna
Neeha (Siria): da accampamento militare a villaggio bizantino
di Giovanna Bucci
CIPRO
Garrison’s Camp a Nea Paphos - Cipro. Dal grande santuario pagano del IV secolo a.C. agli edifici di culto cristiani e alle grandi domus tardo-
antiche
di Elvia Giudice, Filippo Giudice, Giada Giudice
The House of Orpheus at Nea Paphos, Cyprus: the evolution of domestic space in a diachronic perspective
by Monika Rekowska, Demetrios Michaelides, Patrizio Pensabene, Eleonora Gasparini
ASIA MINORE
Urban Vibes in Late Antique Houses: sampling from Asia Minor
by Lale Özgenel
A Triple Entrance with Arched Intervals and Central Columns. Doorways in the Urban Elite Houses of Late Antique Asia Minor
by Inge Uytterhoeven
Il palatium nei concili costantinopolitani del VII secolo
di Silvia Donadei
GRECIA
Tesserae thasiae: Early Byzantine houses from the island of Thasos and their integration at a universal model
by Platon Petridis
Il Palazzo dei Giganti di Atene: un pretorio?
di Isabella Baldini
Note preliminari dalle nuove indagini nel Quartiere del Pretorio di Gortina (Creta)
di Claudia Lamanna
DALMAZIA
Abitare in Dalmazia in età tardoantica
di Carla Sfameni
AFRICA SETTENTRIONALE
Abitare in Africa tra l’età medioimperiale e la tarda antichità: la domus di Iunius Restitutus Maximus a Thignica (Aïn Tounga, Tunisia)
di Alessandro Teatini
Convivia nell’Egitto Tardoantico: la sala da banchetto della casa di Serenos ad Amheida (Oasi di Dakhla)
di Stefania Alfarano
ITALIA
Il mosaico delle Bestie ferite (Aquileia, UD): aggiornamenti e nuovi studi
di Monica Salvadori, Paolo Baronio, Luca Scalco, Alfonsina Esposito, Valentina Mantovani
Palazzo Pignano (Cr). Novità dai recenti scavi nel sito del complesso residenziale tardoantico
di Furio Sacchi, Marilena Casirani
Piana S. Martino, Pianello V.T. (PC). La chiesa e la torre di S. Martino. Scavo 2018
di Roberta Conversi, Cristina Mezzadri, Giovanni Rivaroli
Testimonianze insediative di epoca tardoantica ed altomedievale da Trevozzo di Nibbiano (PC)
di Elena Grossetti, Caterina Bertaccini
A Roman and a Late Roman Farm at Montessoro (Genoa)
di Paolo De Vingo
Ravenna. Abitare nel settore orientale della città in epoca tardoantica
di Giovanna Montevecchi
INDICE

Materiali lapidei, ceramici e pittorici da quartiere abitativo di via D’Azeglio a Ravenna. Risultati preliminari
di Ilaria Bandinelli, Nina A. Bizziochi, Giulia Marsili
Lo scorrere del tempo e le sue modalità di rappresentazione nelle residenze aristocratiche tardoantiche
di Francesca Catellani, Maria Carmela Oliva
Mosaici in villa. Nuovi dati sull’edilizia residenziale tardoantica dagli scavi della villa di Teoderico a Galeata
di Alessia Morigi, Riccardo Villicich
Il fenomeno della villa nell’ager Volaterranus tra III e VI sec. d.C.: un quadro di sintesi
di Stefano Genovesi
Luni tardoantica. Il quartiere presso Porta Marina: continuità e cambiamenti nel sistema insediativo
di Simonetta Menchelli, Stefano Genovesi, Rocco Marcheschi
Le ricerche alla villa romana di Aiano (San Gimignano-Siena): dall’interpretazione stratigrafica alla rielaborazione 3D
di Marco Cavalieri, Sara Lenzi, Gloriana Pace, Daniele Ferdani, Emanuel Demetrescu
Pesaro in Late Antiquity. New perspectives on the city’s transformation between the 5th and the 6th centuries AD
di Daniele Sacco, Giacomo Cesaretti
La domus del Mitreo di Tarquinia durante l’età tardoantica: strutture e contesti tra continuità di vita e abbandono
di Fiammetta Soriano, Vittoria Canciani
Abitare in due domus tardoantiche ai margini del Foro Traiano
di Paola Baldassarri, Simona Faedda
L’autorappresentazione gentilizia e l’eredità di una grande storia: l’arredo scultoreo della domus dei Valerii sul Celio
in epoca tardoantica
di Flavia Campoli
La domus delle Sette Sale a Roma: analisi morfologica e tipologica del complesso di triclinio, corte e ninfeo
di Flavia Benfante
Domus aristocratiche sul Quirinale. La residenza dei Nummii e i ritrovamenti nellʼarea del Ministero della Difesa a Roma
di Fabiola Fraioli
Roma, Tor de’ Cenci. Una villa al IX miglio della via Laurentina
di Leonardo Schifi
L’imitazione dell’opus sectile in pittura nelle residenze tardoantiche di Ostia: una rilettura del fenomeno a partire dalle
testimonianze delle Case a Giardino
di Stella Falzone
SICILIA E SARDEGNA
Progettazione e metrologia nelle ville tardoantiche della Sicilia
di Paolo Barresi
La cuspide nord-orientale della Sicilia in epoca tardoantica: nuove indagini presso la villa romana di Patti Marina
di Gioacchino Francesco La Torre, Alessio Toscano Raffa
Abitare il litorale e abitare l’entroterra in età tardoantica negli Iblei. Il complesso caso delle costruzioni megalitiche
di Annamaria Sammito, Saverio Scerra
Esplorazioni archeologiche in località Casalgismondo (Aidone - EN)
di Carmela Bonanno
Dinamiche del popolamento: il caso della Penisola del Sinis
di Barbara Panico
PENISOLA IBERICA
L’edificio ottagonale tardoantico della villa della Gran Via-Can Ferrerons (Premià de Mar - Barcelona)
di Marta Prevosti, Ramon Coll
Domestic architecture of harbour areas: the Late Antique houses of the Port Suburb of Tarraco
by Ada Lasheras González, Karen Fortuny Mendo
El asentamiento visigodo de El Bovalar (Seròs, Hispania): análisis arquitectónico y propuesta evolutiva
de Karen Fortuny Mendo, Francesc Tuset Bertran, Josep Maria Macias Solè
Transformations in buildings and new economic models in the Carthagenensis Province in Late Antiquity. Initial results from studies carried
out in the Roman villa of Noheda (Cuenca, Spain)
by Miguel Ángel Valero Tévar
Spolia, reaprovechamiento y reciclaje de materiales en la villa romana de las Pizarras (Coca, Segovia)
de Olivia V. Reyes Hernando, Cesáreo Pérez González

Después de la Villa. Ocupaciones y usos tardoantiguos en el yacimiento de Veranes (Gijón, España)
de Carmen Fernández Ochoa, Fernando Gil Sendino, Javier Salido Domínguez, Mar Zarzalejos Prieto
La llegada del cristianismo a la Gallaecia: la documentación arqueológica de las villae
de Diego Piay Augusto
Cercadilla, Split y la arquitectura palatina de época tetrárquica
de Rafael Hidalgo Prieto
De Augusta Emerita aEmerita. La transición en la arquitectura doméstica de Mérida entre la romanidad y la
tardoantigüedad
de Álvaro Corrales Álvarez
Horta da Torre Roman villa (Fronteira) and the monumentalization in Lusitania’s rural landscape
by André Carneiro
SOCIABILITÀ, FORME E USI DEGLI SPAZI RESIDENZIALI
I quartieri degli ospiti nelle ville tardoantiche d’Italia. Fonti ed archeologia
di Cristina Corsi, Marie-Adeline Le Guennec
Appartamenti conviviali con grande sala da pranzo tricora
di Marta Prevosti
Cupiditas aedificandi, formianae orae dulcedo e morbus fabricatorum:gli interventi edilizi di Simmaco e del
«nucleo di fronda storiografica»
di Beatrice Girotti
Iscrizioni in ambito domestico nel Mediterraneo tardoantico (IV-VI sec. d.C.): note preliminari
di Lucia Orlandi
Arredi lapidei con sigle di lavorazione da contesti residenziali: profili tecnici, sociali ed economici
di Giulia Marsili
La trapeza nei monasteri del Vicino Oriente in epoca protobizantina
di Marina Pizzi
Dalle ville aristocratiche all’aristocrazia delle ville
di Federico Cantini, Maria Turchiano