Portugal
Pegarinhos – 2024

The Trás do Castelo site at Vale de Mir – Pegarinhos (Portugal) is located in the Douro Valley, on the edge of a granite plateau. Numerous campaigns carried out on the site since 2012 have revealed an agricultural settlement established in the late 1st century AD and abandoned in the second half of the 3rd century. The remains brought to light relate to a rural operation combining different types of activity: livestock rearing, cereal processing, textile work (probably linen), and wine production. The latter remains unique in this region, which straddles two provinces (Tarraconaise and Lusitania), as it constitutes the oldest attestation in the Douro Valley. It probably represents the economic part of a villa-type settlement. The site was reoccupied during the 4th century by reusing certain areas of the former farm or by creating new buildings of a rather frustrated nature. One of the particularities of this occupation is the discovery of five small monetary deposits that can be interpreted as purses.

The 2022 and 2023 campaigns documented this second occupation with the discovery of three small contiguous areas built on a granitic slope. Their distinctive feature was the abundance of different types of furniture: ceramics, metal objects, glass, ornaments, and, above all, coins. A second sequence was also observed, marked by the discovery of two complete terracotta oil lamps. A cult function is currently being considered. The investigation is still ongoing.

The 2024 campaign had three objectives. The first was to extend the excavation northwards to better understand the modalities of occupation in this part of the site. A large space (probably open) with a trapezoidal floor plan was revealed. To the south, it is equipped with two geminated spaces. Belonging to the first occupation, the function of these features.

The second objective was to uncover two spaces to the west of the site discovered during the 2019 campaign. Technical constraints prevented us from excavating these rooms in their entirety. However, traces of metallurgical activity were detected. It was decided to leave the soil sediments for a more suitable future excavation with a specific protocol.

The final objective was to excavate the charcoal pits observed in 2023. These structures, located in the southern part of the site and containing furniture dating from the late 1st century AD, are probably linked to the construction site of the first settlement.

The 2024 campaign also provided an opportunity to make progress on the study of the large monetary deposit discovered in 2022 and 2023 by Rodolphe Nicot (Éveha). The study is well advanced, thanks in part to the work carried out by a numismatic intern, Vincent Vieux-Champagne (Master 1 at Lyon 2 University): over 800 species have benefited from fine cleaning with a bamboo pick followed by light brushing. To date, 433 coins have been completely inventoried and photographed. Finally, 1,000 units to be cleaned and no fewer than 1,500 coins to be treated.

The 2024 excavation campaign was not as prolific as the previous two. Eleven specimens of coins were unearthed this year: some were found in piles of spoil washed away by rain and wind, and can be linked to the two major 2022/2023 batches. The other discoveries were made in freshly excavated areas. Their precise dating and contextualization will be included in the report in the near future, enabling us to return to the important lot 2022/2023.

Finally, all the millstones and lapidary discovered during the various campaigns have been studied by Alexia Desbos (Éveha).