Non-Invasive Prospection Methods in the Roman City of Balsa (Luz de Tavira-Portugal): Revealing the Real Townscape

Ever since Estácio da Veiga, at the end of the 19th century, identified the ruins of the Roman city of Balsa under Torre d’Aires estate (Luz de Tavira-Portugal) and its surroundings, the scientific questions about this Roman city have been constantly increasing. Despite the historical importance of...

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Main Authors: João Pedro Bernardes, Isabel Rondán Sevilla, Celso Candeias, Manuel Ruiz Barroso
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-10-01
Series:Land
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/11/10/1785
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author João Pedro Bernardes
Isabel Rondán Sevilla
Celso Candeias
Manuel Ruiz Barroso
author_facet João Pedro Bernardes
Isabel Rondán Sevilla
Celso Candeias
Manuel Ruiz Barroso
author_sort João Pedro Bernardes
collection DOAJ
description Ever since Estácio da Veiga, at the end of the 19th century, identified the ruins of the Roman city of Balsa under Torre d’Aires estate (Luz de Tavira-Portugal) and its surroundings, the scientific questions about this Roman city have been constantly increasing. Despite the historical importance of this city, referenced in classical literature, the archaeological knowledge about it remains very scarce due to the difficulties around implementing any durable scientific research projects. Therefore, much of that written about the topographical features and configuration of the city has no unequivocal scientific support. Finally, 2019 saw the launch of this ongoing project “Balsa, searching for the origins of the Algarve”, which aims to ascertain the main features concerning the city’s extent and configuration, mainly through non-invasive methods. Since 2017, geomagnetic and geo-radar surveys have spanned several hectares and successfully identified many traces of the Roman city while discarding the existence of others in certain locations. In the last two years, the geo-radar surveys have intensified and established the boundaries to the Roman city as well as parts of its layout, remnants of buildings, and even fossilised agricultural crops in addition to other geophysical anomalies, whether or not they are subsequently confirmed by diagnostic pits.
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spelling doaj.art-9fd80572feef4c11bf34c9df5089cba42023-11-24T00:54:00ZengMDPI AGLand2073-445X2022-10-011110178510.3390/land11101785Non-Invasive Prospection Methods in the Roman City of Balsa (Luz de Tavira-Portugal): Revealing the Real TownscapeJoão Pedro Bernardes0Isabel Rondán Sevilla1Celso Candeias2Manuel Ruiz Barroso3CEAACP, Universidade do Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, PortugalÁrea de Historia Antigua, Universidad de Cádiz, 11003 Cádiz, SpainCâmara Municipal de Tavira, Praça da República, 8800-951 Tavira, PortugalÁrea de Historia Antigua, Universidad de Cádiz, 11003 Cádiz, SpainEver since Estácio da Veiga, at the end of the 19th century, identified the ruins of the Roman city of Balsa under Torre d’Aires estate (Luz de Tavira-Portugal) and its surroundings, the scientific questions about this Roman city have been constantly increasing. Despite the historical importance of this city, referenced in classical literature, the archaeological knowledge about it remains very scarce due to the difficulties around implementing any durable scientific research projects. Therefore, much of that written about the topographical features and configuration of the city has no unequivocal scientific support. Finally, 2019 saw the launch of this ongoing project “Balsa, searching for the origins of the Algarve”, which aims to ascertain the main features concerning the city’s extent and configuration, mainly through non-invasive methods. Since 2017, geomagnetic and geo-radar surveys have spanned several hectares and successfully identified many traces of the Roman city while discarding the existence of others in certain locations. In the last two years, the geo-radar surveys have intensified and established the boundaries to the Roman city as well as parts of its layout, remnants of buildings, and even fossilised agricultural crops in addition to other geophysical anomalies, whether or not they are subsequently confirmed by diagnostic pits.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/11/10/1785geophysical surveysGPRRoman maritime townLusitania province
spellingShingle João Pedro Bernardes
Isabel Rondán Sevilla
Celso Candeias
Manuel Ruiz Barroso
Non-Invasive Prospection Methods in the Roman City of Balsa (Luz de Tavira-Portugal): Revealing the Real Townscape
Land
geophysical surveys
GPR
Roman maritime town
Lusitania province
title Non-Invasive Prospection Methods in the Roman City of Balsa (Luz de Tavira-Portugal): Revealing the Real Townscape
title_full Non-Invasive Prospection Methods in the Roman City of Balsa (Luz de Tavira-Portugal): Revealing the Real Townscape
title_fullStr Non-Invasive Prospection Methods in the Roman City of Balsa (Luz de Tavira-Portugal): Revealing the Real Townscape
title_full_unstemmed Non-Invasive Prospection Methods in the Roman City of Balsa (Luz de Tavira-Portugal): Revealing the Real Townscape
title_short Non-Invasive Prospection Methods in the Roman City of Balsa (Luz de Tavira-Portugal): Revealing the Real Townscape
title_sort non invasive prospection methods in the roman city of balsa luz de tavira portugal revealing the real townscape
topic geophysical surveys
GPR
Roman maritime town
Lusitania province
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/11/10/1785
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AT celsocandeias noninvasiveprospectionmethodsintheromancityofbalsaluzdetaviraportugalrevealingtherealtownscape
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