Research and value: the Roman mosaics of the Villa of Santiago da Guarda (Ansião, Portugal)

This paper addresses the most recent concerns with the preservation and value of the mosaic pavements of the late Roman Villa of Santiago da Guarda, municipality of Ansião, central Portugal. The 299 m2 of mosaic pavements were only found in 2002 during construction works at the 15th century Tower and 16th century Palace located at the village of Santiago da Guarda in order to prepare the place for a museum. In 2013, the inauguration of the museum known as Monumental Complex of Santiago da Guarda was finally accomplished and the public would have the opportunity to visit at the very same place, as layers of a living palimpsest, the pars urbana and the mosaic pavements of the late Roman Villa dated to the 4th or 5th century CE, the late medieval tower and the walls and some pavements of an aristocratic manor of the Modern times.
Despite the general good condition of the mosaic pavements, there are two main problems urging intervention that will be discussed in this paper. The mosaics preservation, the on going investigation on the mainly geometric compositions of the mosaics as well as of the remains of painting are important assets to value the place and to enhance its ability to attract a wider audience.