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Amphora Dressel 1

27 de March de 2020objecte @en3D @en, amphora, archaeology, Dressel.wine, model @en, museum, Photogrammetry, Puig Ciutat, republic, restoration, romans @en, virtual @enpuig_admin

Inventory number: PC11-2019-2
Name of the object: amphora
Material: ceramic
Production: indeterminate
Type: amphora
Shape: Dressel 1
Dimensions (cm/kg): height: 103; maximum diameter: 30.56; maximum edge diameter: 15.2; tare weight: 18.7
Chronology: mid 2nd C. BC – end 1st C. BC
Survey: July 2011
Provenance: sector 10
Description: Amphoras are ceramic containers used in ancient times to transport and store food. The Dressel 1 shape was the most widely used by the important wine trade market that developed during the late Roman Republic period. This type of amphora was mainly used to transport wine from the grape-growing areas of Tyrrhenian Campania and to the south of Lazio (southwestern Italian Peninsula) to the edges of the Mediterranean. As these containers were important for the quality of the wine, imitations were quickly reproduced in the wine-receiving locations, probably with the aim of confusing the buyers and selling lower quality wines. Often, the copies are so well made that it is difficult to differentiate them from the originals.

Two-handled urn

30 de November de 2019objecte @en3D @en, 3D @en, arqueologia @en, ceramic, crockery, cup, Fotogrametria @en, Fotogrametria @en, model @en, museo, Puig Ciutat, Puig Ciutat @en, republica @en, restauracion, romanos, romans @en, urn, virtual @en, virtual @enpuig_admin

Inventory number: PC13-2130-5
Name of the object: two-handled urn
Material: ceramic
Production: common
Type: crockery
Shape: indeterminate
Dimensions (cm): height: 21.7; maximum diameter: 15.2; maximum edge diameter: 12
Chronology: late Roman Republic period
Survey: July 2013
Provenance: sector 10
Description: Container designed to contain and transport liquids. The remains of white slip appear to be preserved on the exterior walls, although this has been lost from most of the surface.
Its shape is reminiscent of some of the Catalan slipware urns indigenous to the Emporitan area, although it is smaller and those pieces are not generally found beyond the Maresme and Roussillon plain. The similarity probably stems from common knowledge based around the the Iberian substratum.

Building 3

27 de November de 2019zona d'excavacióassault, geophysics, gpr, Julius Cesar, Puig Ciutat, republic, romanpuig_admin

The geophysical survey carried out in the field to the west of the site revealed a building that clearly differed from its surroundings; this was identified as “Building 3”.

In 2017, it was decided to excavate in this location with the aim of characterising this construction with regard to both its structure and function. In addition, this excavation enabled us to document more of the settlement’s urban structure.

Since that first campaign, every summer this building has been the site of a dig that is used as part of the theoretical-practical course organised for students at Edinburgh University.

The excavation has, so far, led to the discovery of an almost rectangular building, measuring 8m x 11.5m. It has two rooms in the north and a large area on the southern side, which is still being excavated.

A great deal of material has been found in this building. It tells us about both the life of its inhabitants (pottery ware for drinking and eating, game pieces, coins, etc.), and about its end, as several charcoal deposits show that it caught fire. Among the rubble of the largest room, the first anatomically connected human remains from the settlement have been found.

Anthropologist and restorer preparing to extract human remains

The wooden doorway was burned during the destruction of the settlement. From top to bottom and from left to right: when the threshold was still covered by the rubble from the walls; as part of the rubble was removed, the first charcoal pieces were exposed; the progress of the work shows how part of the clay from the fallen building was hardened by the fire (white blocks on top of the charcoal); the burned wooden lintel completely uncovered.

Excavation of the threshold of one of the doors

Top, from left to right: bronze buckle, Iberian coin and lead sling projectile. Bottom, from left to right: tip of a catapult projectile and iron key.

Example of material found during the unrestored excavations

Example of material found during the excavations

Left: small bronze medical spatula (specillum). Right: spindle whorl. Piece that is placed at the lower end of a spindle to help spin the textile fibres by twisting them.

Scattering of pottery, specifically several jars, fallen onto the floor of one of the rooms.

Several fragments of burned wood. One of them had fallen onto the mouth of an amphora from Africa that has been completely crushed.

The room contains the remains of burnt beams, iron elements possibly associated with a door, and various pottery pieces

End of the 2018 campaign

Bird’s-eye view of the two areas excavated during the 2017 and 2018 campaigns

During the 2019 campaign, the entire surface of the building was surveyed to determine its full extent.

To preserve the archaeological remains, at the end of each campaign, and as long as the building is not completely excavated, the space is covered to await the next excavation period. Once the work is finished, it will be consolidated and exhibited in a museum.

Closure of the dig

Building 4: exploring the northern part of area 19

27 de November de 2019zona d'excavacióassault, fire, gpr, pillars, Puig Ciutat, republic.geophysics, romanpuig_admin

Area 19 is the second room in Building 4 that has been explored. It was excavated in autumn 2019, and it has been verified that it was a large covered space (5 x 14 m along its sides). It opened to the street located to the west, which it was separated from by a row of wooden pillars. At least two of the supporting pillars rested on a circular stone base. Due to the dimensions of this room and the large volume of material in it, it has only been possible to excavate the 5 northernmost metres of the area.

This work has led to the discovery of up to seven amphoras near the northern wall, completely crushed by rubble from the building, as well as a large rectangular structure of carbonised wood (3 x 2.5 m), which is still being studied. Also worth noting are a pair of burned wooden pillars that would probably have supported the roof and which have fallen into the space. Charcoal and groups of keys have also been found. These could correspond to part of the doors that connected the space with both area 4 and the room located to the east.

With the knowledge we currently have, it is not possible to say what the room was used for, beyond pointing out its food storage role, as suggested by the amphoras found there.

Building 4: area 4

27 de November de 2019zona d'excavaciógeophysics, gpr, pillar, Puig Ciutat, republic, romans @enpuig_admin

The geophysical survey carried out at the beginning of the project revealed, among other elements, part of the urban structure of the site. Building 4 was detected in the centre of the field. It is a large building (about 450m2), with a prominent “C” shaped room (area 4), which had apparently been burned.

The 2011 to 2013 campaigns focused on this area and demonstrated that it is a closed space, even though the east wall, which is narrower, deeper, and built with smaller stones, was not detected by the geophysical techniques. The only access to the area is on the south side.

The traces of fire were also corroborated during the excavations, as several burned beams were found, probably from an attic, which had fallen on several pottery pieces. One of the pottery pieces is a black-glazed krater from present-day Sicily, which was used to mix wine and water. The resulting liquid would have been consumed using cups, also ceramic, in this case imported from the Italian peninsula.

The presence of these elements denotes a certain level of luxury. This makes us suspect that the building could have played an important role in the settlement, although future work is needed to confirm this.

Fish hook

15 de February de 2016objecte @en3D @en, archaeology, bronze, fishing, hook, model @en, museum, Photogrammetry, Puig Ciutat, republic, restoration, romans @en, virtual @enpuig_admin

Inventory number: PC10-2010-70
Name of the object: fish hook
Material: bronze
Type: 1.1.3.3 of Gracia
Dimensions: 2,5 x 3 cm and diametre: 1,5-1,7mm
Chronology: Roman Late Republic
Survey: July 2010
Provenance: sector 2
Description: The two hooks recovered have a flat, rectangular head produced by hammering the top of the shank after casting. The head is perforated for attaching the fishing line

Sling projectile

23 de January de 2016objecte @en3D @en, 3D @en, archaeology, arqueologia @en, cup, Fotogrametria @en, lead, mediteranean, model @en, model @en, museum, Photogrammetry, projectile, Puig Ciutat, Puig Ciutat @en, republic, republica @en, restauracio @en, restoration, romans @en, romans @en, sling, virtual @en, virtual @en, Volling, weaponrypuig_admin

Inventory number: PC10-2005-539
Name of the object: Sling projectile
Material: metal, lead.
Type: weaponry
Shape: bi-conical Type 2b of Völling (1990)
Dimensions: length: 4,1 cm, width: 1,6 cm, weight: 45 gr
Chronology: s. I BC.
Survey: july 2010
Provenance: sector 2.
Description: Lead sling projectile made in a two-part mould. One end is crushed and it has an incision on one side. This damage could be the result of impacting against a hard surface. Lead sling projectiles originated in the Greek world, where they are documented for the first time at the end of the 5th century BC. It seems that they started to spread following Roman expansion and, during the Roman Republican and Imperial Periods, they are documented throughout the Mediterranean

Sharpening stone or coticule

23 de January de 2016objecte @en3D @en, 3D @en, archaeology, arqueologia @en, basalt, coticule, cup, Fotogrametria @en, lithic, model @en, model @en, museum, Photogrammetry, Puig Ciutat, Puig Ciutat @en, republic, republica @en, restauracio @en, restoration, romans @en, romans @en, sharpening, stone, virtual @en, virtual @enpuig_admin

Inventory number: PC10-101-190
Name of the object: Sharpening stone or coticule
Material: lithic, basalt.
Type: daily use object
Shape: rectangular
Dimensions: 6 x 4 cm. Thickness: 1 cm.
Chronology: Roman Late Republic
Survey: july 2010
Provenance: SUPI 4.
Description: Rectangular sharpening stone, touchstone or coticule of basaltic tuff with bevelled edges

Door key

17 de January de 2016objecte @en3D @en, 3D @en, archaeology, arqueologia @en, cup, door, Fotogrametria @en, iron, key, model @en, model @en, museum, Photogrammetry, Puig Ciutat, Puig Ciutat @en, republic, republica @en, restauracio @en, restoration, romans @en, romans @en, virtual @en, virtual @enpuig_admin

Inventory number: PC10-2005-516
Name of the object: door key
Material: metal, iron
Type: daily use object
Dimensions: length (from the spikes to the outer part of the handle): 5 cm. length (from the spikes to the inner part of the handle): 4,7 cm. Irregular thickness (of the spikes): de 0,4 a 0,6 cm. Thickness (of the square handle): 0,7 x 1,2 cm. diametre of the ring: outer: 2,4 cm; inner: 1,5 cm.
Chronology: Roman Late Republic
Survey: july 2010
Provenance: sector 2
Description: Door key with four teeth, a short handle and a bow. Some of the teeth are slightly at an angle, which could have been caused in ancient times or due to the weight of the earth. The bow is large enough to carry it on one finger.

Head of catapult bolt

17 de January de 2016objecte @en3D @en, 3D @en, archaeology, arqueologia @en, bolt, catapult, city wall, cup, Fotogrametria @en, head, iron, model @en, model @en, museum, Photogrammetry, pilum, Puig Ciutat, Puig Ciutat @en, republic, republica @en, restauracio @en, restoration, romans @en, romans @en, siege, virtual @en, virtual @en, weaponrypuig_admin

Inventory number: PC10-2005-508
Name of the object: head of a pilum catapultarium
Material: metal, iron
Type: weaponry
Dimensions: total length: 10,3cm; length of the body:7,1cm; length of the head: 3,2 cm. irregular diametre of the body: from 1,8 cm at the openeing, to 1,1 cm where the head starts. Maximum width at the base of the head: 1,6 cm. Weight: 60gr.
Chronology: Roman Late Republic
Survey: july 2010
Provenance: sector 2
Description: Square-sectioned compact, solid pilum catapultarium bolt with socket attachment to the shaft. Catapult bolts could be a very effective weapon for eliminating the defenders of a wall in a hypothetical siege.

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