An ancient Roman quarry has been identified inside a marble quarry in Vila Viçosa, a discovery considered of great archaeological interest. The existence of these remains was already known through the work of geologist and professor at the University of Évora Luís Lopes, but the dimensions and characteristics of the space only became clearer with the work carried out on site. This is another significant find in the municipality, which had previously revealed other Roman quarries in the Lagoa quarry area and in São Marcos, in Pardais.
Following this discovery, a technical meeting was held in Vila Viçosa, at the invitation of the Centro de Estudos CECHAP, which brought together representatives from various entities related to heritage, archaeology, geology, and regional development. Present were the vice-president of CCDR Alentejo, Eng. Henrique Sim-Sim, technicians from the Direção-Geral de Energia e Geologia, archaeologists from the University of Évora, and representatives from the Municipal Council, led by president Inácio Esperança.
The Municipality of Vila Viçosa now intends to evaluate the importance and heritage value of the remains before moving forward with a protection process, beginning by requesting municipal interest status. The local authority has also expressed its intention to museumize the space, allowing the public to directly learn about the remains and understand how marble was exploited during the Roman period. The mayor highlighted that preservation is a priority, as it is "a heritage of mankind."
Preservation, however, poses a particular challenge, as the remains are located inside a quarry with current extraction activity, making it necessary to find a solution that reconciles heritage protection with the extractive industry. The material extracted from these quarries likely had destinations such as the urban centers of the time like Mérida and Évora, reinforcing the strategic importance of the region. The expectation is that the remains will allow for deeper knowledge about the techniques used by the Romans and the long relationship of Vila Viçosa with marble exploitation.
