The Ave Valley, Northern Portugal: an archaeological survey of Iron Age and Roman settlement

• Main Authors: Martin Millett, Francisco Queiroga, Kris Strutt, Jeremy Taylor, Steven Willis
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: University of York 2000-01-01
• Series: Internet Archaeology
• Subjects: Ave Valley; Portugal; Iron Age; Roman; survey; ceramics; fieldwalking; petrology
• Online Access: http://intarch.ac.uk/journal/issue9/millett_index.html

The article presents the results of the HRB-funded survey of a sample of the Ave valley undertaken between 1994 and 1998. Introductory sections describe the geographical background and summarise the approaches followed. The field-walking results are then presented with especial emphasis on the ceramics. The field-walking evidence is used to identify a series of newly discovered sites which are assessed. The results of geophysical surveys of several of these sites are also presented. Information about the settlement patterns is presented based on a GIS analysis of both previously known sites and the results of the field-walking. Patterns in the changing distribution of settlement are discussed in relation to local social dynamics and the Roman annexation and exploitation of the region. The article is supported by databases which present the results of the field-walking and ceramic analyses. The article is jointly authored by: Martin Millett, Francisco Queiroga (Universidade Fernando Pessao, Porto), Kris Strutt, Jeremy Taylor and Steven Willis. The nature of a field-walking survey which produces a sequence of related databases (for field and finds) attached to a sequence of maps is particularly appropriate for electronic publication. Attempting such a publication in electronic form seems a worthwhile project in itself aside from the importance of the results.