THE ROMAN SETTLEMENTS OF XÀBIA
The lands which now form the municipality of Xàbia saw an important increase in the size and density of the population during Roman times. The time frame for the 19 known Roman sites began in the late 2nd century BC and lasted until the 7th century AD. The vast majority of sites are found in the area of the Sant Bertomeu valley, an area with a huge agricultural potential.
Thus the primary activity of the Roman settlements of Xàbia was agriculture. The smallholder farmers focused on the traditional Mediterranean crops of cereals, olives and especially the vine, and this continued until at least until the 3rd century AD. The wine production would have been packed in amphorae produced in workshops situated west of the valley: la Rana (Gata) and Teulera (Jesus Pobre).
Along with these small agricultural settlements are two coastal sites of considerable size: the Duana (Port) and Punta de l'Arenal, to which we could add the smallest, the island of Portitxol. The coastal locations and other features common to all three indicate that, next to agriculture, trade and fishing were important activities.
Apart from these economic activities carried out by most of the settlements, the small Roman site located at the top of the hill of the chapel of Santa Llúcia, would probably have been used to control the territory, as suggested by the wide views of the valley and bay.
The greatest density of Roman settlements occurred in the 1st century AD. From then on, the sites were gradually abandoned, with a marked decline from the 5th century AD. This became widespread in the 6th century and by the 7th century only the tip of the Arenal shows signs of occupation.
Thus the primary activity of the Roman settlements of Xàbia was agriculture. The smallholder farmers focused on the traditional Mediterranean crops of cereals, olives and especially the vine, and this continued until at least until the 3rd century AD. The wine production would have been packed in amphorae produced in workshops situated west of the valley: la Rana (Gata) and Teulera (Jesus Pobre).
Along with these small agricultural settlements are two coastal sites of considerable size: the Duana (Port) and Punta de l'Arenal, to which we could add the smallest, the island of Portitxol. The coastal locations and other features common to all three indicate that, next to agriculture, trade and fishing were important activities.
Apart from these economic activities carried out by most of the settlements, the small Roman site located at the top of the hill of the chapel of Santa Llúcia, would probably have been used to control the territory, as suggested by the wide views of the valley and bay.
The greatest density of Roman settlements occurred in the 1st century AD. From then on, the sites were gradually abandoned, with a marked decline from the 5th century AD. This became widespread in the 6th century and by the 7th century only the tip of the Arenal shows signs of occupation.
SETTLEMENTS / CHRONOLOGY / ACTIVITY
1) La Vall de Sala -2nd - 1st centuries BC / 1st -4th centuries A.D. - Agriculture
2) La Vall de Pexet - 2nd - 1st centuries BC. / first half 4th century A.D. Agriculture
3) Forandons - 1st-4th centuries A.D./ 4th century - Agriculture
4) La Vall dels Puces - 2nd - 1st centuries B.C- / 2nd century A.D. Agriculture
5) Tarraules- 2nd -4th centuriesA.D. - Agriculture
6) Benimadrocs - 2nd - 1st centuries B.C./ 4th century A.D. - Agriculture
7) Tossals- 1st -3rd centuries A.D. ? - Agriculture
8) Vilanova - 2nd - 1st centuries B.C. / 4th century A.D. - Agriculture
9) Lluca - 1st/3rd centuries A.D. - Agriculture
10) Tossal de Santa Llúcia - 2nd - 1st centuries B.C. / 1ª1/2 s.I A.D. 4/5th centuries A.D. - Territorial Control
11) Costeres del Calvari 5/6th centuriesA.D. - Agriculture
12) Capsades. - change of era / 6th century A.D. - Agriculture
13) Rebaldí - 1st/4 -5th centuries A.D. - Agriculture
14) Atzúbia.- change of era / 6th centuryA.D. - Agriculture
15) Tossalets - change of era / 1st century A.D. - Agriculture
16) Illa del Portitxol - 1st century / 6th century A.D. - Commercial
17) Duana - 2nd - 1st centuries B.C. / 6th century A.D. - Commercial / Agriculture
18) Punta de l’Arenal /Muntanyar - 1st century B.C. (end) / 7th century A.D. - Industrial / Commercial /Agriculture
19) Camí de les Valls - 2nd - 1st centuries B.C. / 2nd century A.D. - Agriculture
1) La Vall de Sala -2nd - 1st centuries BC / 1st -4th centuries A.D. - Agriculture
2) La Vall de Pexet - 2nd - 1st centuries BC. / first half 4th century A.D. Agriculture
3) Forandons - 1st-4th centuries A.D./ 4th century - Agriculture
4) La Vall dels Puces - 2nd - 1st centuries B.C- / 2nd century A.D. Agriculture
5) Tarraules- 2nd -4th centuriesA.D. - Agriculture
6) Benimadrocs - 2nd - 1st centuries B.C./ 4th century A.D. - Agriculture
7) Tossals- 1st -3rd centuries A.D. ? - Agriculture
8) Vilanova - 2nd - 1st centuries B.C. / 4th century A.D. - Agriculture
9) Lluca - 1st/3rd centuries A.D. - Agriculture
10) Tossal de Santa Llúcia - 2nd - 1st centuries B.C. / 1ª1/2 s.I A.D. 4/5th centuries A.D. - Territorial Control
11) Costeres del Calvari 5/6th centuriesA.D. - Agriculture
12) Capsades. - change of era / 6th century A.D. - Agriculture
13) Rebaldí - 1st/4 -5th centuries A.D. - Agriculture
14) Atzúbia.- change of era / 6th centuryA.D. - Agriculture
15) Tossalets - change of era / 1st century A.D. - Agriculture
16) Illa del Portitxol - 1st century / 6th century A.D. - Commercial
17) Duana - 2nd - 1st centuries B.C. / 6th century A.D. - Commercial / Agriculture
18) Punta de l’Arenal /Muntanyar - 1st century B.C. (end) / 7th century A.D. - Industrial / Commercial /Agriculture
19) Camí de les Valls - 2nd - 1st centuries B.C. / 2nd century A.D. - Agriculture
