The "Albufeira Romana" colloquium showcased the municipality's history at the Baltum Festival

The Albufeira Municipal Archaeology Museum was too small to accommodate all those interested in learning about the testimonies of the Romans' passage through the municipality at the colloquium "Roman Albufeira - territory, culture and memory", held on Thursday, July 24, as part of the debut of the Baltum Festival.

José d`Encarnação, Full Professor at the Faculty of Arts of the University of Coimbra, specialist in epigraphy, with emphasis on the study of Roman epigraphic monuments in southern Portugal, presented the panel dedicated to the theme «Roman Society in the Algarve».

In his presentation, he discussed the society of the time; how it can be understood through archaeological evidence and epigraphy (inscriptions left on durable material, in the case of the Algarve on limestone, such as monuments, funerary stelae, plaques at the base of statues, etc.), a legacy that tells us stories about the territory, its customs and traditions, commercial activity, the writing of the Southwest, the techniques used, and social classes. Among the various finds, he highlighted a limestone pedestal, a tribute to Emperor Caesar Lucius Domitius Aurelian, found in Ossonoba (Faro), currently on display at the Museum of that Algarve city; a plaque in Balsa (Tavira) honoring a deceased person, on display at the National Museum of Archaeology; the funerary stela from the Museum of Lagos (Lacóbriga); the pedestal dedicated to Jupiter in São Bartolomeu de Messines; and the altar dedicated to the God Silvanus, on display at the Municipal Museum of Archaeology of Albufeira, among others.

José d`Encarnação highlighted the fact that the Algarve cities with seaports formed the bridge between North Africa and the Atlantic coast, highlighting their commercial activity and the importance of Garum (fermented fish sauce: the most valuable condiment of the Roman Empire), giving as examples the factories of Tróia (Grândola), stressing that in the Algarve there was also one, precisely in Albufeira, on Praia de Santa Eulália.

Luís Campos Paulo, an archaeologist from Albufeira City Council , presented the theme “Roman Albufeira”, a summary of the Roman occupation, heritage and archaeology, based on the work carried out by the Municipal Archaeology Office over several years.

The technician reported that Albufeira has more than 60 archaeological records from the Roman period. Much of this knowledge is the result of the municipality's efforts to integrate heritage protection into public and private projects, leading to systematic archaeological work every year, especially since 2011. This has been essential in bringing many of these Roman remains to light.

There is evidence of Roman settlement throughout the territory, he said, from isolated finds such as coins, ceramic fragments, and reports of a gold ring found in the old town. The Votive Arula of Serros Altos is one of the most emblematic testimonies, discovered by archaeologist Estácio da Veiga.

He also reported that during the works for the construction of the high voltage line, scattered material was found in Paredinha São Leonardo and Alcaria II, namely masonry constructions, Roman tiles, common ceramics, among other testimonies.

Luís Campos Paulo emphasized that, in the interior of the municipality, the findings were closely related to agricultural activity, while on the coast they were linked to the intense trade with the various ports of the Empire.

The most prominent products were fish salting and fermented fish sauces (Garum|Allec), their importance evident in the dozens of fish processing factories known to exist in the Algarve. In the municipality of Albufeira, there are three locations with this type of industrial occupation: the old town, where salting tanks were discovered during the construction of the Albufeira Shopping Center; apparently confirmed by urban renewal works, where various archaeological remains from the Roman period were found, including amphorae, net weights, and other evidence related to fishing activity; and Praia dos Aveiros – a salting tank carved into the rock, severely damaged by the erosive action of the sea, likely part of a now-defunct factory.

Also worth mentioning is the Santa Eulália fish processing factory, located at the top of the cliff, 16 meters high, one of the most important discoveries of this period in Albufeira.

More recently, the highlight was the discovery made by a private individual in Ribeira de Quarteira (Praia da Rocha Baixinha) – an amphora from the Roman period for transporting wine.

Regarding evidence related to maritime activity, mention should also be made of the discovery of anchor stocks found on the beaches of Galé and Aveiros (a collection now in a museum).

The last intervention was given by Idalina Nobre, historian from the municipality of Albufeira, who chose as her theme "Diet in the Roman Period", which she says integrates the Mediterranean Diet without major changes in the products consumed.

He highlighted the abundance of fish and shellfish, caught in the sea and in the streams of Espiche and Quarteira, and local products, mainly from the fertile lands of the Barrocal: cereals, olive oil, vegetables, fruits and a variety of meats.

Idalina Nobre emphasized that the Roman diet was based on frugality, simplicity and seasonal products, with salting and sun-drying being the techniques used to preserve food.