A research team from the University of Cadiz investigated the middle valley of the Guadalete River to uncover Roman history. Using multispectral cameras and LiDAR technology, they discovered 57 Roman-era sites, which led to on-the-ground research into some settlements.
The team aims to understand how trade routes were interconnected in the region. They began their project in 2023 and found 57 Roman-era sites of “unprecedented nature.” To locate these sites, they used unmanned aircraft with sensors and added geo radar to define wall and settlement layouts not visible on the surface.
In the second phase, the team focused on mapping out how these sites link together through trade and communication routes. This effort helped bridge the gap between decades-old findings and modern technology, allowing them to formally catalog previously cited finds from the 1980s and 1990s.
The first site they studied was a Roman villa in Bornos, which included walls delineating residential and work zones within the settlement. This is the first time a Roman settlement has been comprehensively analyzed in this environment.
Their main objective is to continue excavations, surveys, and analysis of documented materials to obtain a holistic vision of the Roman settlement and territory around the Bornos and Arcos de la Frontera reservoirs. The ongoing effort will help them better understand the fundamental aspects of these sites located in the mountain region and relationships at different levels with other sites.
Source: https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/archaeology/a61816418/archaeologists-discover-57-ancient-roman-settlements/