Ammaia is a Roman city in central-eastern Portugal (near Marvao), which was founded at the end of the 1st century BCE. The city covered an area of 25 ha, was inhabited by about 2,000 people and was a prosperous city in the province of Lusitania. The city was founded on the left bank of the Sever River. The land in this area is fertile, which guaranteed good yields; moreover, residents had very good access to drinking water.
During the reign of Emperor Claudius, Ammaia received the status of civitas; between the first and the middle of the second century CE in turn, it received the status of municipium. The city was abandoned in the first half of the 6th century CE.
Scientists have managed to extract several areas of cities from the ground:
- Entrance gate and accompanying walls; the remains of two towers have also survived. The gate was directed to the capital of Louisiana – Augusta Emerita (current Merida).
- A small thermal complex near the forum. Baths had: a cloakroom, a room with hot and cold water, a small closed and a large open swimming pool;
- Preserved remains of a Roman house, with a kitchen, leaning against the city walls;
- Forum and temple. This place was the center of political, social and economic life. Here was the basilica, which was the place where court hearings were held and the curia – the place of the authorities.
During excavations, numerous objects related to the burial, jewelry and everyday life elements were excavated. These can be seen in the local museum.
