Discovering and Safeguarding the Mosaics at the Pont del Treball Roman Villa in Barcelona

Abstract

The construction of the high-speed rail line through the city of Barcelona, which began in 2008, made it possible to conduct an archaeological impact assessment on a 3.7-kilometer tract of land, the largest site ever excavated in the city. The construction of La Sagrera Station uncovered the remains of a Roman villa and several pavements, including an early fifthcentury opus tessellatum. This paper reflects on the cost of progress at the expense of heritage conservation and illustrates the social dimension and positive impact the discovery could have for the district, despite its physical disappearance.