From Conquest to Imperial Consolidation in Hispania: Exploring Roman Military Archaeology in Central Portugal (Western Iberian Peninsula)

This article explores the nature, extent, and implications of Roman military activity in the western Iberian Peninsula between the Late Republic and the early Empire, from conquest to control and colonisation, analysing how geography, local resistance, and imperial interests shaped the deployment of Roman forces. Drawing on legacy archaeological records, field observations, and the systematic analysis of remote sensing data, it examines the available evidence from a broad region encompassing the modern Portuguese districts of Aveiro, Coimbra, and Viseu, where traditional narratives often emphasise a swift and decisive conquest assumed to have left scarce material traces. The identification of previously unrecorded potential military sites through remote sensing, combined with a re-evaluation of known archaeological findings, including military camps and associated material culture, suggests a more nuanced and protracted process. This study synthesises the existing data and explores new sites to propose a chronological framework and explore possible strategic functions of the Roman military presence in the region. It analyses the interaction between the Roman army and local populations, identifying patterns of resistance, resilience, negotiation, and the subsequent colonisation and integration. The archaeological record from the Central region of Portugal offers critical insights into the logistical challenges, adaptive strategies, and long-term impacts of Roman military operations on the indigenous communities and the broader socio-political transformation of western Iberia.