The Roman colony of Pax Iulia

Review of a research journey (2000-2021)

Abstract

In the last two decades, studies on Pax Iulia (Beja) have experienced a remarkable progress, particularly in urban archaeology. Building on the doctoral thesis "A cidade romana de Beja. Percursos e debates em torno de Pax Iulia", defended in 2000 and published in 2003, this article offers a critical overview of this trajectory. It discusses the shift from a fragmented framework “ focused on casual finds and legal status debates “ to a model integrating programmed excavations, archaeogeography, and the history of urban form over the long-term. A striking contrast between the advancement of knowledge about the city, driven by the "Archeology of the Cities of Beja" project, and the relative stagnation in the rural world, despite the interventions in Alqueva.