A technical meeting held in Vila Viçosa on September 2 marked the resumption of the safeguarding process and potential classification of archaeological remains identified inside a marble quarry in the municipality. The meeting, promoted by the CECHAP Study Centre, brought together various entities linked to heritage, archaeology, geology and regional development, including the Vice-President of CCDR Alentejo, technicians from the Directorate-General for Energy and Geology, archaeologists from the University of Évora and representatives from the Vila Viçosa Municipal Council.
Carlos Filipe, representing CECHAP, classified the site as a Roman-period mining archaeological space unique at national and Iberian Peninsula scale. The official recalled that concern for the preservation of this heritage is not recent, highlighting that about a decade ago a solution for its classification had been sought, without the process having advanced at that time.
One of the main issues discussed was the need to find a balance between the preservation of archaeological remains, the quarry's industrial activity and potential tourism valorization of the space. Carlos Filipe argued that safeguarding should proceed without creating friction with industry, acknowledging the fundamental role of industrialists in the region and appealing to their sensitivity to accommodate whatever can be preserved.
The process now enters a new phase, with each entity analyzing within its competencies the existing possibilities for a joint solution. The potential integration of the quarry into the Marble Route was mentioned as a later stage, with the primary objective being to ensure the preservation of archaeological remains before considering tourism visitation.
