September 11

lecture series
"FROM THE MUSES TO ARÍNZANO. WINERIES IN TIERRA ESTELLA".

In search of its origins: the Roman "villa" of Arellano

Román Felones Morrás
classroom of Experience, UPNA

In a course graduate "From the Muses to Arínzano, wineries in Tierra Estella", we could not miss for obvious reasons a section for the Roman villa of Arellano. Given that its excavation process is well known thanks to the work of María Ángeles Mezquíriz, summarized in the book La villa romana de Arellano, the dissertation about it, held in the physical space of the winery, was more a reflection on cultural policy than a historical or archaeological account, pivoting on two significant novelties: the period from the prospecting to the excavation itself, and a series of unpublished photographs provided by Xabier Larreta, one of its promoters.

The Roman Villa of Arellano: data historical and archeological

Following the data provided by Dr. Mezquíriz in the book of reference letter, the enclave was first analyzed as an area suitable for agriculture, and then a brief review of its historical development. In the first stage (1st to 3rd centuries), a construction was erected with a complete system for the elaboration of wine, a cistern for the collection of water, and fully Roman ways of life: domestic and personal furnishings and worship to the gods protectors of the family. At the end of the 3rd century, a great fire razed all the buildings to the ground, leaving the facilities out of use. Consequently, the cellar was filled with debris produced by the collapse of the upper floor. In a second stage (4th and 5th centuries), the buildings are superimposed on the remains of the first phase. It maintains its character of agricultural exploitation, but a new function as a religious center dedicated to the cult of Cybele and Atis takes precedence. The withdrawal of the villa takes place in the first half of the 5th century. The third stage (6th century) was the last occupation of the area. The Roman Empire has fallen and the barbarian peoples begin to arrive in the Iberian Peninsula. There is a reuse of previous buildings, still standing, for industrial subject activities related to iron metallurgy. This is attested by the remains of furnaces and the numerous slag heaps.

The history of the research of the town knows four stages well delimited in time. The first dates back to the end of 1882 when, by chance, an octagonal mosaic was found in a vineyard, which the archaeological bibliography will know as the "Mosaic of Arróniz or of the Muses", today magnificently exhibited in the National Archaeological Museum. The second takes us to 1942, when Blas Taracena excavated a series of trenches that he correctly interpreted as belonging to a Roman villa. The fourth, from 1985 to 2000, is the process of systematic excavation itself. In these three decades, a team multidisciplinary directed by María Ángeles Mezquiriz, and composed of archaeological technicians, students from the universities of Navarra, Basque Country, Zaragoza and Complutense, professors and students from high school of Estella, and workers from the area, proceeded to the field work and to the study works and laboratory, in addition to the complementary programs of study by specialist professors.

Teachers and students of IES Tierra Estella in the first phases of the excavation.

The classroom of Archaeology: a preliminary task of prospection and awareness-raising.

But there is a third, practically unknown, worthy of accredited specialization and recognition, which the lecturer made known: the one led by the teachers and students of high school of Estella, with Alfredo and Xabier Larreta at the head of it. María Ángeles Mezquíriz herself echoes it at the beginning of her book: "I must also thank the financial aid and enthusiasm of Alfredo and Javier Larreta, teachers of the high school of Estella, who accompanied me in the first prospections and encouraged me to approach the research of the village of Arellano, and even collaborated in the field work during several campaigns". From the experience of the lecturer, first a professor at high school , and later a counselor of Education and Culture, his task was core topic for the final result of the excavation.

Excavation process of the villa's cellar.

In 1975 the high school of Estella was created and shortly afterwards the classroom of Archaeology was born with the aim of making students and citizens aware of the need to know and protect the cultural and archaeological heritage. The outings to the environment on Saturday mornings to collect elements on the surface; the subsequent exhibition in the villages of the aforementioned material; and the creation of the programs of study Tierra Estella Center, are milestones in this awareness process. One of the sites visited was the Alto de la Cárcel, which provided a large issue of terra sigilata tesserae and ceramics. Located in lands belonging to the municipality of Arellano, some of them communal and others belonging to private individuals, the years 84 and 85 marked an accelerated process in which five elements of interest stand out: the previous task of raising awareness of the classroom of Archaeology; the willingness of the town council of Arellano to exchange properties and promote a systematic and scientific excavation; the exchange of the vineyard that occupied a good part of the site; the arrival of a new team to the Government of Navarra; and the beginning of the systematic excavations.

The mosaics of the oecus covered with gravel to prevent their deterioration.

The vineyard before its permutation impedes the progress of the excavation.
 

Pros and cons of the musealization process

The goal pursued from the beginning of the excavation was that the site, including mosaics, would remain in situ, as a cultural and touristic resource at the service of the region and Navarra. This aim was supported by cultural associations (CETE), town councils in the area (Arellano in particular), political groups and the Government of Navarra itself. The project was carried out in the framework of a agreement of cooperation between the Foundation for the Historical Heritage of Navarre (FCPHN) and the Autovía del Camino.

The objectives of project were the construction of a building to shelter most of the archaeological excavation to protect its Structures from the weather exhibition ; to facilitate its visit through an established route; to make possible a didactic and informative treatment, after consolidation of the Structures discovered; to install the mosaics recovered in the excavations; to reproduce the mosaic of the Muses, exhibited in the National Archaeological Museum; to adapt the accesses and surroundings; and to install informative panels on the evolution of the villa and its uses.

The villa is about 11,000 square meters in size, while the planned building covers a large part of the excavation, about 2,160 square meters. It was inaugurated in 2008 and has been managed by the business Guiarte since 2011. Visitor figures range from 4954 visitors the first year to 3731 in 2017.

Aerial view of the villa with the vineyard not yet permuted.

Given the intention of the lecture to be a reflection on cultural policy, referring in this case to the archaeological heritage, the speaker dedicated a last section to take stock of a prolonged action in time, in its positive and negative aspects.

As positive elements to be taken into account, the following were highlighted: continuity of an archaeological policy without drastic changes depending on the political color of successive governments; continuity of Culture budgets in which the main lines designed in the early eighties have been maintained, without excessive oscillations; good example of partnership between regional and local administrations, in contact with associations and cultural entities; scientific and professional management of excavations, with continuity management assistant and budget; new concept in the treatment of heritage as an instrument at the service of the community as a cultural, social and economic engine; and excellent gradation in the publications referred to the villa.

With the aim of providing a critical reflection that could be taken into account when resolving certain deficiencies or in subsequent actions, some negative elements were also listed: an austere and practical building, but perhaps lacking in artistic breath; a proposal that does not adequately resolve basic elements of a facility of these characteristics, such as the audiovisual conference room or the store; deficiencies in the route, such as the walkway located over the oecus mosaic, one of the elements core topic of the complex; stagnation in the issue of visits, which demonstrates an insufficient or conformist information policy; and absence of specific actions for certain groups of special interest, such as the municipalities and associations of the surroundings, student body of primary, ESO, and high school diplomaand senior citizens.

A glass of wine in the peristyle of the town, offered by the wineries of the Navarra appellation of origin, allowed the numerous attendees to discuss the issues raised and take a look at the always suggestive installation.