Vila Viçosa Roman quarry remains undergo evaluation for protection

Authorities and researchers have resumed efforts to classify and protect Roman-era marble quarrying remains located within a quarry in Vila Viçosa, Portugal. A technical meeting held on September 2 brought together representatives from several institutions, including the Centro de Estudos de Cultura, História, Artes e Património (CECHAP), the Alentejo Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDR), the Directorate-General for Energy and Geology (DGEG), the University of Évora, and the local municipality.

Carlos Filipe, a researcher from CECHAP, described the site as a Roman mining archaeological space that is “unique on a national and Iberian Peninsula scale.” While the site has been known for many years, a previous attempt to secure its official classification failed approximately a decade ago. The current objective is to find a collaborative solution among the involved departments to safeguard the site's historical significance.