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The Ministry of Culture and Sports has started the construction works of an innovative cover for the tomb of Postumio, in the Archaeological Ensemble of Carmona (Seville), as a new measure to prevent deterioration from possible rainwater infiltration. The architectural solution, carried out by the doctor in architecture and professor at the University of Seville Manuel Ordóñez within the cobArQact university project, presents a double membrane cover that leaves an intermediate air chamber that, properly monitored and managed, allows the movement of hot and cold air masses inside the funerary complex to ensure its preservation.
The Archaeological Ensemble of Carmona -the first site to open to the public in Spain in 1885- preserves a wide range of Roman tombs, most of which date back to the 1st century. They represent a typology that takes advantage of the ease provided by the rocky substrate where they are located, the region of Alcores (called calcarenite) to create underground chambers accessed through a vertical shaft or a courtyard, so with the entry of water, the rock degrades to become sand.
The Minister of Culture and Sports, Patricia del Pozo, has explained that «the Necropolis of Carmona faces with this innovative solution, the result of a heritage research project, the challenge of its conservation since, from its excavations in 1885 and 1910, the tombs have been exposed to harsh environmental conditions.» Although various measures have been taken at different times to prevent direct or indirect rainwater from entering the complexes, «more advanced solutions are needed to guarantee their conservation for the enjoyment of today’s Andalusians and future generations».
In this regard, Del Pozo has emphasized the significant investment effort maintained by the Government of Juanma Moreno in the field, which since 2019 exceeds 71.2 million euros solely in the restoration and conservation of Andalusia’s historical heritage. In addition, «the ongoing work carried out by the Ministry of Culture and Sports for the conservation and safeguarding of cultural assets, which also involves supporting their study and research by experts,» she pointed out.
The minister stressed that new conservation and study techniques are crucial for the future of our historical heritage. «The Junta will always work hand in hand with research groups, like the one that makes up the cobArQac university project,» she said. This university project is funded by the Government of Andalusia and led by the doctors in Architecture and professors at the University of Seville, Juan Carlos Gómez de Cózar and Ángel Luis León.
After a year of trial, the research team, in agreement with the Archaeological Ensemble of Carmona and the Territorial Delegation of Culture and Sports of the Andalusian Government in Seville, faced the challenge of designing and executing a cover for one of the tombs in the Necropolis that not only contains ancient mural paintings but is also visitable and requires preventive conservation action. The most suitable candidate was the tomb of Postumio.
The architectural solution, authorized by the Provincial Commission of Historical Heritage of Seville -in the session held on September 25, 2024-, as well as by the City Council of Carmona, materializes in an original system of lightweight cover with great adaptability to the geometry and contour conditions of the site, designed based on a geometric generation process through parametric software. The cover, practically, leaves no physical footprint on the site, as its support on the archaeological soil is done through hidden elements of shallow ballast and total reversibility. It also represents an environmental innovation as it is self-sufficient, with minimal impact throughout its life cycle.
The Tomb of Postumio
It is a funerary complex dating back to the 1st century, characterized by a large courtyard excavated in the rock in the open air, accessed through a staircase. The courtyard leads to a chamber carved into the rock where niches are found to receive the alcoves containing the cremated remains of the deceased. Thanks to an inscription found during its excavation in the late 19th century, it is known that the owner’s name was Quinto Postumio.
The chamber is adorned with mural paintings on walls and ceilings. Although it has undergone repeated restorations in recent years, its conservation status is precarious. Therefore, restoration works have been carried out on the chamber walls to maintain the original proportionality.
Similarly, the tomb has been the subject of a study on its initial appearance, which has been captured in a video that can be viewed from any mobile device on-site.