The historical-archaeological evidence scale that resulted from the domus of Torreparedones has 31 RUs (Fig. 4). Different RUs were used for different elements, even though they are identified with the same colour. Table 2 shows the different RUs with the historical-archaeological evidence levels of the ‘Baker’s House’, as well as a description of the element or structure.
Table 2 Identification of the RUs and evidence levels associated with Figure 4.
RU
|
Evidence level
|
Name
|
Description
|
1
|
8
|
Elevation of the walls of the domus
|
Since the total height of the walls of the domus is not preserved, the work of Vitrubius was selected. It is important to take into account that the ratio relationships established by Vitrubius are approximate.
|
2
|
10
|
Skewback of the walls of the domus
|
The walls were built with rammed earth and opus incertum for the plinths, resorting to irregular bonds of limestone, which is the natural local rock, applying plaster as the final layer.
|
3
|
9
|
Pavement made of large stone slates
|
This building technique consisted in extending a bed of opus incertum and irregular flagstone paving, being a parallel technique to the one used in the paving of the streets of the city of Torreparedones.
|
4
|
2
|
Atrium cover
|
Compluvium / impluvium system
|
5
|
9
|
Impluvium
|
Square pond that gathers rainwater and discharges to the street through a canalisation system connected to a larger canalisation system.
|
6
|
8
|
Impluvium columns
|
First building phase of the atrium.
|
7
|
9
|
“A bagnarola” water tank
|
Supplied with rainwater gathered in the roofs, given its location in one of the corners of the atrium.
|
8
|
2
|
Latrine
|
The presence of a limestone slate that stands out in size in all the pavement could be an indication of the location of the latrine hole.
|
9
|
2
|
Lararium
|
Due to its chronology and location, it seems to correspond to a variant of the aediculae type, pseudoaedicular, characterised for being made of walls or a solid block, with an inner recess-like cavity, where domestic worship figurines would be placed, crowned by a gable.
|
10
|
10
|
Base of the lararium
|
Square structure that could correspond to the base of the recess that held the figurines for domestic worship.
|
11
|
7
|
Non-preserved pavement
|
Pavements of the domus that are not preserved.
|
12
|
1
|
Roman furniture
|
Roman furniture associated with each space.
|
13
|
3
|
Kitchen structure
|
Masonry structure
|
14
|
2
|
Cover of the southern rooms
|
Large gabled cover that discharges the rainwater into the atrium and into the street located south of the domus.
|
15
|
1
|
Windows
|
In the Villa de las Musas (Arellano, Navarra, Spain), a window grill was discovered. The preservation of this type of elements helps in their 3D reconstruction, as well as in the calculation of the size of the hollows.
|
16
|
10
|
Circular base associated with the rotatory mill
|
Circular base of slightly over 1 m in diameter that seems to correspond to the base of a rotatory mill.
|
17
|
2
|
Roman rotatory mill
|
Formed by two hollow cones placed upside down, one over the other, with the grain remaining between the two cones and being milled by the friction between the two cones.
|
18
|
2
|
Cover of the storage and milling area
|
Spaces E-37 and E-38 consist of a hip roof that discharges rainwater into three areas: the northern area (hortus), the street located south of the domus and the street located west of the domus.
|
19
|
1
|
Access to the western area
|
Without archaeological evidence, it was decided to create an open door to the hortus, since there must have been an access in the production area to introduce the elements for their use.
|
20
|
9
|
Pavement of opus signinum
|
Pavement of opus signinum in the room identified as cubiculum.
|
21
|
2
|
Cover of the tablinum and cubiculum
|
The tablinum (E-11) and the cubiculum located in the northern area (E-12) consist of a shed roof that also discharges into the atrium, since, otherwise, the rainwater would go to the open corridor of the western area of the domus, where there are no canalisations or storage structures.
|
22
|
5
|
Parietal decoration
|
This type of decoration has also been found in other Roman sites. The archaeological work conducted in Beatas Street (Cartagena, Spain) recovered panels decorated with embossed motifs.
|
23
|
9
|
Preserved parietal decoration
|
Ornamental technique in which a mortar coating is repeatedly hit with a mold containing the embossed decoration. Then, the coating is covered with pure lime or mortar.
|
24
|
2
|
Cover of the service area
|
The other cover is the one that covers spaces E-22, E-23, E-24, E-26, E-28, E-31 and E-46, with a gable roof, which discharges the rainwater into the hortus and into the northern area of the domus.
|
25
|
2
|
Oven vault
|
In Augusta Emerita, an oven was recovered, which presented an access similar to the one in the domus of Torreparedones, consisting of a small passable entrance up to the very mouth of the oven, embedded in a square structure. Similarly, the floor of the oven preserved in Torreparedones is typologically identical to that of the bread oven of the ‘Birds’ House’ and that of the domus of the Planetarium (Itálica, Seville, Spain).
|
26
|
2
|
Oven mouth
|
It has a diameter of 4 m and it would have been covered by a vault, being embedded, at least in the upper part by a wall, with side openings for putting in and taking out the products to be baked and the fire wood.
|
27
|
2
|
Cover of the woodshed
|
Shed roof proposed for the closing of space E-32, identified as woodshed.
|
28
|
4
|
Structure designed for the sale of bakery products
|
Garret made of large 20cm-high slates, located in the southern half of the space.
|
29
|
2
|
Cover of the commercial area, redistribution area and latrine
|
Spaces E-15 and E-16 are composed of a gable roof, discharging, on the one hand, into the western area of the domus, and, on the other hand, into the eastern area. The closing of spaces E-36 and E-13 consists of a shed roof that would be the continuation of the previous cover, discharging the rainwater into the ‘porch’.
|
30
|
8
|
Stairs
|
Stairs proposed for bridging the different levels of the rooms.
|
31
|
1
|
Vegetation
|
Contemporary vegetation in time and space.
|
RUs 1 and 2 are identified with the walls that compose the building. RU-1 corresponds to the elevation of the walls that make up the domus, with an evidence level 8, indicating ‘strong archaeological or documentary evidence’. Since the total height of the walls is not preserved, the work of Vetrubio was considered [28], which offers approximate ratio relationships; this technique has also been used in the Roma Villa of El Saucedo [29]. On the other hand, RU-2 is related to the skewback of the walls, that is, the archaeological remains of these that are preserved. Therefore, the corresponding evidence level is maximal (level 10), as it exists according to the original.
In the archaeological excavation, pavements based on large stone slates were documented in the hall (fauces), latrine, tabernae and attrium. This type of construction technique consisted in extending a bed of opus incertum and irregular flagstone paving, being parallel to the technique used in the paving of the streets of the city of Torreparedones [30]. The pavement of the mentioned areas correspond to RU-3, with an evidence level 9, i.e., ‘it exists or partially exists with modifications’, as it is altered. Another type of pavement present in the building is a pavement of opus signinum (RU-20), located in a room identified as cubiculum [24]. As in the previous case, it presents an evidence level 9, due to its food state of preservation (Fig. 5). The rest of the domus does not present any type of paving, and, for the virtual recreation, the first technique mentioned was chosen. Thus, all the paving of the domus, except the two preserved types, correspond to RU-11, which presents an evidence level 7, as it is inferred that the building would have the same pavement in all areas.
Regarding the covers, these have seven RUs, all of them with an evidence level 2, since none of them are preserved; their representation is based on comparative architecture [27: pending publication, 28, 31]. The cover that corresponds to the atrium (RU-4) was proposed to be a hipped roof, since a rectangular pond was documented at the centre of the atrium, as well as the skewback of four columns in it [24]. Therefore, this would be a compluvium/impluvium system. Secondly, the cover of the rooms in the southern area (RU-14) was proposed to be a gable roof, with the rainwater being discharged into the atrium and into the street located south of the domus. Thirdly, the covered area of storage and milling (RU-18) are composed of a hip roof that discharges the rainwater into three areas: northern area (hortus), the street located south of the domus and the street located west of the domus. The next cover corresponds to the tablinum and to the cubiculum located next to the tablium (RU-21); this cover is a shed roof that discharges into the atrium. The covers of the service area would be RU-24, composed of a gable rood that discharges into the hortus and into the northern area of the building, and another shed roof that discharges into the western street. The cover that corresponds to the woodshed (RU-27) is a shed roof that discharges into the northern area of the domus. Lastly, RU-29 corresponds to the cover of the commercial area and to the redistribution area and latrine. The cover of the commercial area is represented as a gable roof, discharging, on the one hand, into the western area of the domus, and, on the other hand, into the eastern area. The closure of the redistribution area and the latrine consists of a shed roof that would be the continuation of the previous cover, discharging the rainwater into the ‘porch’.
The reconstructed impluvium of the domus (RU-5) gathered the rainwater and discharged it into the street through a canalisation system connected to a larger canalisation system [24]. It has an evidence level 9, since the structure is preserved, although it has been altered. The columns of the impluvium (RU-6) correspond to a first construction phase of the atrium [24]. Only their skewback has been documented, thus they have an evidence level 8, i.e., ‘strong archaeological evidence’.
Another element present in the building is the “a bagnarola” water tank, which is located in the residential area, across a wall that separates the atrium from the triclinium, thus it can be inferred that it was built in a previous time (Late Roman Republic). It would be supplied with rainwater gathered in the roofs, as it is located in one of the corners of the atrium [25], which is a system that has been documented in other buildings, such as the Domus of Salvius [32]. This structure is fully preserved, although it should have a paved cover system given its location. This cover has not been documented in the excavation, associating it with an evidence level 9.
The latrine was represented in the 3D model based on the presence of a limestone slab that stands out in size among the rest of the evidence found in the pavement. According to Morena et al. [25], the difference in size could indicate the location of the latrine hole. Therefore, this RU-8 presents an evidence level 2, since comparative architecture was used for its virtual representation.
In the ‘Baker’s House’, a square structure was identified, which would correspond to the base of the recess that would hold the domestic worship figurines [25]. This base of the lararium (RU-10) has the maximum evidence level (10), since it exists according to the original. The lararium that may have existed (RU-9), based on its chronology and location, seems to correspond to an aediculae variant, i.e., pseudoaedicular [33, 34]. The virtual reconstruction achieved in the lararium of the ‘Arucci North House’ [35] helps in the interpretation of this type of lararia, serving as a basis for the representation of the lararium of Torreparedones. Therefore, it presents an evidence level 2, since, again, comparative architecture was used for its virtual reconstruction.
There are four RUs that have the lowest evidence level (1), that is, elements that have been reconstructed based on the historical context, such as the Roman furniture associated with each space (RU-12) and the windows proposed in the virtual reconstruction (RU-15). In the Villa de las Musas (Arellano, Navarra, Spain) a window grill was found [36]; the preservation of this type of elements helps in their 3D reconstruction, as well as in the calculation of the size of the hollows. The creation of the windows was carried out through comparative architecture, although, due to the absence of traces of such windows in the building, the minimum evidence level was assigned to it. The third RU with an evidence level 1 is the access to the western area from the street (RU-19); even without archaeological evidence, the digital reconstruction included and justified the creation of a door that allowed introducing the foods into the production area. Lastly, the crops and trees of the domus (RU-31), both inside and outside of the building [37, 38], were also assigned the minimum evidence level.
In the room identified as the kitchen, a masonry structure was documented, which is centred and attached in its northern facing [25]. In this context, this structure has been represented as the space for cooking (RU-13). An evidence level 3 was assigned to it, since the only information that was obtained for its reconstruction was a poorly-detailed documentary description.
The western area has a room in which a circular base of slightly over 1 m in diameter was documented (RU-16), which appears to correspond to the base of a rotatory mill [24]. This structure is preserved according to its original form (Fig. 6), thus the maximum evidence level was assigned to it (10). The rotatory mill (RU-17) reconstructed for this base was carried out by comparative architecture, thus an evidence level 2 was assigned to it. It is believed that it consisted of two hollow cones placed upside down one over the other, grinding the grain with the friction between them [39, 40].
With respect to the parietal decoration preserved (RU-23), the ornamental technique consists in a mortar coating that is repeatedly hit with a mold containing the embossed motif, and then it is covered with pure lime or mortar [24]. This technique, which is well documented [25], is only preserved in some areas of the room identified as the tablinum and the cubiculum located next to it. Since only some areas are preserved, and in an altered manner, an evidence level 9 was assigned to it. This type of decoration has also been found in other Roman sites; for instance, the excavation conducted in Beatas Street (Cartagena, Spain) recovered panels decorated with embossed motifs [41]. The digital reconstruction of the parietal decoration of the two rooms of the building of Torreparedones was carried out in its four walls (RU-22), taking into account the representations of Beatas Street in Cartagena, assigning it an evidence level 5.
The only element preserved in the bread oven that gives the domus its name is its floor, and two RUs are associated with it: the vault of the oven (RU-25) and the mouth of the oven (RU-26). The virtual reconstruction of both parts was carried out by comparative architecture, which is why an evidence level 2 was assigned to it. It is 4 m in diameter and would have been covered by a vault, being embedded, at least in the front part by a wall, with side openings that would allow putting in and taking out the bakery products and the fire wood [25]. In the site of Augusta Emerita, an oven similar to that of the domus of Torreparedones was recovered, with a small passable entrance to the very mouth of the oven, being embedded in a square structure [42]. Similarly, the floor of the oven preserved in Torreparedones is typologically identical to the bread oven of the ‘Birds’ House’ and to the oven of the domus of the Planetarium (Itálica, Seville, Spain) [43].
The room dedicated to the sale of bakery products (tabernae) preserves a garret composed of 20cm-high limestone slates built in the southern half of the room [25]. It could be a structure designed to place the products for sale. This structure (RU-28) is associated with an evidence level 4, since it was reconstructed based on a detailed description of it.
RU-30 corresponds to the stairs proposed in the accesses to some rooms to bridge the different levels of the rooms. These were not documented in the archaeological excavation, although the differences in the level of each space suggest strong evidence for them, which is why it was assigned an evidence level 8.
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the lifestyle of the people, thus impacting the sites of archaeological heritage [44, 45]. Currently, new technologies are important in the communication between the heritage and the public [46, 47, 48]. Therefore, the historical-archaeological evidence scale tested in the ‘Baker’s House’ of Torreparedones allows people to reflect on the structures of the past, observing the preserved remains in situ, the virtual 3D reconstruction performed and the degree of veracity of such reconstruction.