Roman site of Camino de Seseña

It is located on the left bank of the Peñuelas stream, tributary of Guatén and very close to its channel. The approximate extension of the deposit is one hectare, although it has not been fully excavated. The oldest documented phase was from the Carpenane period, being defined mainly by ceramics.

It is in Roman times when a series of structures were built that made up a production complex for the transformation of raw materials, similar to others located in the Community of Madrid. This farm could be part of a larger complex or function as a small independent factory. Its beginning is dated around the XNUMXnd century AD. C., taking into account the associated ceramics, although the high density of remains of structures allows identifying at least three different construction moments. These construction phases are established thanks to the identification of differences in construction techniques based on dry masonry and seem to be the result of modifications to the same space during use, through both restructuring and expansion works.

Two main venues can be distinguished. These are two factories with different rooms, with a space for pressing raw materials, called torcularia where wine or oil would be made or maybe both. The torcularium the oldest phase would have an 'L' shape. It would have a raw material storage area, an area where the press would be located and another area that could be a winery. When this space was abandoned, its construction materials were looted for the construction of the next complex, making its interpretation complex. The second torcularium  it is more modern and better preserved. Like the previous one, it has different zones.

The storage area has a window that gives way to a conical ramp that would facilitate the dumping of raw materials into the room. The pressing area preserves the waterproofing finish and does not seem to have direct communication with the next area, where the sink is located. The complex is complemented by a large patio on whose sides there are small rooms that could have served as a storage place. The excavated space surely corresponds to the fruitful pars (area dedicated to storage and transformation) or another type of Roman agricultural exploitation, where activities for the transformation of raw materials into wine or oil would also be carried out.

After the abandonment of the agricultural complex around the XNUMXth century AD, two structures with a totally different use were built in this same space: the first of them has a rectangular floor plan, with a semicircular head and a south-facing entrance. Of this construction, only the foundations have been preserved. To the west of this first structure and very close to it, a rectangular pit was located that conserved a niche excavated in its eastern profile. Inside the pit, a series of materials were found that, due to their characteristics, seem to correspond to a tomb that would have a ritual character, since no human remains were found. These materials are a bronze cauldron and patera, an iron ladle, a spear point, a possible iron knife, an iron sword, four buckles (one of them made of gold) and four riveted plates. Inside the niche they found a large ceramic plate (late Terra Sigillata Hispánica), a glass jug and saucer, a bronze bowl, a spoon and the remains of a bird. This last set has been interpreted as the materials necessary to carry out the burial ritual, which would have been offered once it was concluded. For all these reasons, the excavation directors have interpreted the remains of this phase as a possible mausoleum or cult enclosure linked to the ritual burial of a character of some importance.