Heading west to the sea from Augusta Emerita: archaeological field data and the Antonine itinerary

Abstract

The provincial capital of Lusitania plays a key role in the communications network of Hispania. The roads heading West were of great importance as they guaranteed a connection to the Atlantic Ocean and access to the maritime trade. The archaeological fieldwork that was undertaken in the region has enabled us to recognise direct and indirect evidence of these routes, presented here as a partial reconstitution of Lusitania’s road network. This cartography is confronted with the Antonine Itinerary description of these routes, highlighting numerous interpretation problems.