Abstract:

Included in the Archaeological Ensemble of Tar raco declared World Heritage in 2000 by UNESCO, the quarry of El Mèdol is one of the few and best preserved examples of Roman quarrying in Hispana. Main supplier of building stone for the construction and mon-umentalisation of Tar raco (modern Tarragona), this quarry has been long admired for its dis-tinctive configuration and its spectacular central rocky pinnacle. However, it was only since 2011 that a project including field survey, comprehensive recording, geophysics and archaeo-logical excavations in specific areas of particular interest was carried out in this exceptional site. The results mark a major breakthrough in the thorough understanding of this site (date and production stages, techniques and logistics, management and transport) and confirm its key role in the urban configuration of the largest western Roman province’s capital.