Abstract:

An intense constructive activity was developed in certain places and times in Valentia and around between the 6th and 8th centuries. The construction of the monumental episcopal center in the first half of the 6th century changed the urban landscape around the Roman Forum. The new buildings (cathedral, baptistery, mausoleum and others) continuously and selectively used a large number of Roman elements. On the one hand these spolia were part of the entire parament (baptisterium). On the other hand, they were concentrated in certain points of the structure (mausoleum, cathedral). The use of new stone is also noted. The Circus arena was urbanized from the second half of the 6th century until the middle of the 7th. These findings are small excavations. There are a lot of walls but they do not allow to identify any building. Anyway, they attest the continuity in the reuse of Roman materials. This area had less entity than the Episcopal area. In both cases, the supply of the reused material would be from the remains of the old Roman town. Valencia la Vella, a new and very important fortified settlement of 5 hectares, emerged at the end of the 6th century. The site is 16 km away from Valentia on the Turia river. This new city was made ex novo, so it was necessary a great building effort. The reused Roman stones are not lacking, but, in this case, the origin of this material was foreign. Edeta, a Roman municipality abandoned in the 5th century would be the most likely quarry to build the new site. The stones would must be moved from 12 km., although the transport would be facilitated by the nearby Turia river. Valencia la Vella was abandoned in the late 7th or early 8th centuries. Contemporarily another important power center was created in Pla de Nadal, about 2 km. from Valencia la Vella. Probably the recently disappeared site would be used as a quarry.