3rd century Roman perfume shop, Visigoth burial site discovered in Spain

A Roman perfume shop and an ancient Visigoth burial site have been uncovered in Spain. The skeleton of a woman from a nomadic Gothic tribe was also discovered by archaeologists, which could be an isolated burial or part of a wider grave system.

The skeleton of a woman from a nomadic Gothic tribe was discovered by archaeologists, which could 
be an isolated burial or part of a wider grave system [Credit: CEN/Grup Comatel]

Several third century stone Roman structures were also found during excavations, including walls and pavement, suggesting a building once stood at the site. A number of glass bottles were uncovered by archaeologists, which shows the building was once a Roman perfume shop, experts claim. Neither the skeleton nor the Roman site have been dated by scientists, and further analysis is needed to confirm their age and origins.

The historic find happened during excavations at Plaza de Manises in Valencia, in the eastern Spanish region of the same name. Builders with the hotel firm Grupo Comatel first found the skeleton of a 25-year-old woman, who they say was part of a Visigoth group and whose skeleton dates from 250 and 750 CE.

The Visigoths were a branch of East Germainic Goths that spread throughout Europe towards the end of the Roman Empire. It is not yet know if the grave, which was unmarked, was an isolated burial or part of a bigger site.

Several stone Roman structures were also found during excavations, including walls and pavement, 
suggesting a building once stood at the site [Credit: CEN/Grup Comatel]

The second major discovery was revealed when several structures appeared at the renovation site. These included a wall made using the ancient Roman opus vittatum technique, which used parallel horizontal courses of tuff blocks alternated with bricks.

Adjoining this wall was a pavement made from 'opus signinum', a building material used in ancient Rome. It was made of tiles broken up into very small pieces, mixed with mortar, and then beaten down with a rammer.

Excavators also found Roman pools at the site  that used lead piping for drainage. The site is covered with charred roof beams and fragments of wall plaster and murals caused by the building's collapse.

Among the artefacts found were numerous small glass bottles. This has led experts to believe that the site was a Roman perfume shop from the third century, though further analysis is required to confirm this.

The site is covered with charred roof beams and fragments of wall plaster and murals caused
 by the building's collapse [Credit: CEN/Grup Comatel]

 The Romans used perfumes for offerings to the gods and as part of funeral rituals. They were made from olive oil and macerated flowers, making them much thicker than modern versions.

The discoveries occurred during digging for the installation of a lift for a proposed hotel. Archaeologist in charge of the works Maria Luis Serrano Marcos and anthropologist Llorens Alapont Martin are overseeing the project under the supervision of the Valencia city council. Excavations started in early November and will last for at least another month, they said.

Speaking on the perfumery find, Ms Marcos said: 'The point where it is located, next to the forum, in the center of the Roman city, makes us think it is a perfumery', according to Spanish outlet Las Provincias.

She added that only two other Roman perfumeries have been documented in Spain, one in Barcelona and another in Elche.

Author: Harry Pettit | Source: Daily Mail [December 07, 2017]