The Ministry of Culture and Sports has begun the construction of an innovative cover over the tomb of Postumio, in the Archaeological Complex of Carmona (Seville), as a new measure to prevent deterioration from possible rainwater infiltration. The architectural solution, carried out by the doctor in architecture and professor at the University of Seville Manuel Ordóñez as part of the cobArQact university project, features a double membrane cover that creates an intermediate air chamber which, properly monitored and managed, allows for the movement of hot and cold air masses inside the funerary complex to ensure its preservation.
The Archaeological Complex of Carmona -the first site to open to the public in Spain in 1885- houses a wide range of Roman tombs, most of which date back to the 1st century. They follow a typology that takes advantage of the rocky substrate in the Alcores region (known as calcarenite) to create underground chambers accessed through a vertical shaft or a courtyard. With water infiltration, the rock degrades into sand.
The Minister of Culture and Sports, Patricia del Pozo, explained that «the Necropolis of Carmona faces the challenge of preservation with this innovative solution, the result of a heritage research project, as the tombs have been exposed to harsh environmental conditions since their excavation in 1885 and 1910.» Although some measures have been taken in the past to prevent direct or indirect rainwater entry into the complexes, «more advanced solutions are needed to ensure their preservation for the enjoyment of present-day Andalusians and future generations».
In this regard, Del Pozo highlighted the significant investment effort made by the Government of Juanma Moreno in this area, which has exceeded 71.2 million euros since 2019 solely for the restoration and conservation of Andalusia’s historical heritage. She added, «the Ministry of Culture and Sports is constantly working on the conservation and safeguarding of cultural assets, supporting their study and research by experts.»
The Minister emphasized that new conservation and study techniques are crucial for the future of our historical heritage. «The Junta will always work hand in hand with research groups, like the one involved in the cobArQac university project,» she stated. This university project is funded by the Junta de Andalucía and led by doctors in Architecture and professors at the University of Seville, Juan Carlos Gómez de Cózar and Ángel Luis León.
After a year of testing, the research team, in collaboration with the Archaeological Complex of Carmona and the Territorial Delegation of Culture and Sports of the Junta de Andalucía in Seville, took on the challenge of designing and implementing a cover for one of the tombs in the Necropolis. The chosen candidate was the tomb of Postumio, which not only contains ancient mural paintings but also requires a preventive conservation intervention while remaining visitable.
The architectural solution, authorized by the Provincial Commission of Historical Heritage of Seville -in the session held on September 25, 2024-, as well as by the Carmona City Council, materializes in an original system of lightweight cover adaptable to the geometry and contour conditions of the site, designed through a geometric generation process using parametric software. The cover leaves virtually no physical footprint on the site, as its support on the archaeological soil is achieved through hidden elements of shallow depth and total reversibility. It also represents an environmental innovation as it is self-sufficient, with minimal impact throughout its lifecycle.
The Tomb of Postumio
This funerary complex dates back to the 1st century and is characterized by a large courtyard excavated in the rock open to the sky, accessed through a staircase. The courtyard leads to a chamber carved in the rock where niches are found to receive the alcoves containing the cremated remains of the deceased. An inscription found during its excavation in the late 19th century revealed that the owner’s name was Quinto Postumio.
The chamber is adorned with mural paintings on walls and ceilings. Despite undergoing multiple restorations in recent years, its conservation status is precarious. Therefore, restoration works have been carried out on the chamber walls to maintain their original proportions.
Additionally, the tomb has been the subject of a study on its initial appearance, captured in a video accessible from any mobile device on-site.