The Urban Reform of the Colonia Libertinorum Carteia during the Augustan Era. The Basilica Building

Abstract

In this paper we analyse the reform that took place in the city of Carteia (San Roque, Cadiz) during the Augustan Age and, specially, inside it, the construction of the so-called “Augustan terraced building”. It is one of the most interesting monumental buildings, identified in that way during the Carteia Project works (Phase II, 2006-2013) near the “cortijo (a kind of country house) del Rocadillo”, which no longer exists. Most of this building was dug between 1960 and 1985 by diferents pojects. However, it has been due to the new archaeological digs (in 2007 and 2009) that a new and complete study of its architectural structure and construction techniques has been performed, following the main purpose of establishing its typology and function. The new documentation and data, as well as its assessment in relation to the buildings and spaces nearby, allow us to interpret this undoubtedly monumental construction as a possible basilica, erected in a moment of planned urban renovation of this area in the city of Carteia –where the forum was placed–, in the Augustan Age.