ARCHIVED - Council works to exploit Roman sites in Las Gabias, Granada
Las Gabias is seven kilometres from Granada city and is one of many Roman ruins in the Andalusia region
The archaeological complex comprises a villa dating from late Roman times and a building called the Underground Monument or Cryptoportico,the purpose of which is still unclear. The Roman villa comprises two different zones, an area defined as urban and another as rustic.
In the "pars rustica", a structural complex dedicated to the manufacture of olive oil has been uncovered, including an oil mill, with several rooms identifiable: one dedicated to the milling of olives, an area dedicated to the collection of oil, and finally, an area located next to the two basins in which a large semicircular pit is located, probably used for the storage of oil. In this same area there is an area of warehouses and housing probably inhabited by slaves and / or servants.
In the area defined as "pars urbano", two large, almost parallel walls are documented that follow the same direction as the Cryptoportico, with various archaeological levels corresponding to habitation, with finds dating from the 1st century
The Cryptoportico is an underground structure that is part of a larger group of buildings which has not been excavated, consisting of a square chamber leading to an underground gallery.
The council is working in collaboration with the Culture Ministry to further explore and habilitate the site.