At the Mercy of the Sea — Vulnerability of Roman Coastal Settlements in the Algarve (Portugal). Boca do Rio as an Emblematic Example of a Key Maritime Industry

  1. Hermann, Florian 1
  2. Feist, Lisa 2
  3. Teichner, Felix 1
  4. Bernardes, João Pedro 3
  5. Reicherter, Klaus 2
  6. Brückner, Helmut 4
  1. 1 University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
  2. 2 Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen University
    info
    Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen University

    Aquisgrán, Alemania

    ROR https://ror.org/04xfq0f34

    Geographic location of the organization Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen University
  3. 3 Universidade do Algarve
    info
    Universidade do Algarve

    Faro, Portugal

    ROR https://ror.org/014g34x36

    Geographic location of the organization Universidade do Algarve
  4. 4 University of Cologne
    info
    University of Cologne

    Colonia, Alemania

    ROR https://ror.org/00rcxh774

    Geographic location of the organization University of Cologne
Show affiliations +
Book:
Historical Earthquakes,Tsunamis and Archaeology in the Iberian Peninsula
  1. Álvarez Martí-Aguilar, Manuel (coord.)
  2. Machuca Prieto, Francisco (coord.)

Publisher: Springer Nature Singapore

ISBN: 978-981-19-1978-7,  978-981-19-1979-4

Year of publication: 2022

Pages: 215-249

Type: Book chapter

DIALNET GOOGLE SCHOLAR

Abstract

The Roman fish-salting industry in theWestern Mediterranean was concentrated in a high-risk geological area as regards extreme wave events. It underwent a significant and sudden decline and reorganisation between the second and third centuries AD. The few explanations that have been hitherto offered for this abrupt transformation range from political and economicdisruptions to vague speculations on natural causes. Accordingly, this chapterfocuses on determining the possibility of an extreme wave event as the cause behind the restructuring of this industry. For this purpose, the results of 3 years of archaeological and geoscientific field research in Boca do Rio (Vilado Bispo, Algarve) are presented and evaluated. Although far-reaching changes in the building stock of this Roman industrial settlement have been dated to between the second and third centuries AD, and a short series ofhigh energy events has been identified, there is no evidence of the direct influence of a single event (a flood, storm surge, tsunami, etc.) as a trigger for the changes in the settlement and the local Roman economy. Rather, medium-term environmental changes seem to have been the driving force behind them. Additionally, a previously unknown late medieval event layer is described in detail.

Data source: Dialnet