Abstract:
The Roman town of Ammaia (in Marvão Region) is considered one of the most important
recent findings of the Roman presence in Portuguese territory. It was settled in Republican
times and abandoned in the seventh century. In this research, 17 masonry mortars and renders
from the West Tower (South Gate), the residential area near the West Tower, the macellum, the
peristylium, the public bath building, the podium of the temple and the portico of the forum
were analysed. The methodology of chemical, mineralogical and microstructural characterization
has involved several complementary techniques, including stereomicroscopy, X-ray
diffraction, thermal analysis and scanning electron microscopy coupled with energydispersive
X-ray spectroscopy. The results indicate that the mortars from the beginning of the
town’s edification were mainly composed of soil (clays). Later, during the main Roman
building period, mortars were composed using a calcitic binder and the mortar composition
varied according to their use and function. The samples from a period subsequent to the
Roman occupation are based on a dolomitic binder. From the present study, relevant information
has been acquired about the technological evolution of Roman construction in
Ammaia, the historical context of the archaeological structures and guidelines for the
conservation and restoration of mortars.
