El conjunto paleocristiano del Francolí en Tarragona. Nuevas aportaciones

The authors kindly offer a preliminary account of a recent dig by the archaeological department of the Rovira i Virgili University of Tarragona. The dig has been conducted near the celebrated cemetery of Francolí, where Mgr. Serra-Vilaro believed befound a cemetery church of the martyrs Fructuoso, Augurio and Eulogio. The excavation, nearby the modern road, but crossing the Roman road to the cemetery, brought to light different buildings: part of a villa, called here "villa palacio" or domus suburbana, a basilican church, a cistern and some remains of a farm. All of these ruins were found at the same stratigraphic level and seem to be connected. The author believes that the 4th century domus, that includes a vast room with an apse (thought to be a triclinium) and baths, can hardly heve been a private residence. The basilican church (measuring, with the atrium, 22 x 15 m) is oriented to the east. The rectangular apse was enlarged in a secondary phase and contains two graves later than to the first phase. Two annexes north of the church are called here diaconicon and prothesis. In front of the apse, one notices some traces of a transept, the central part of which was used as a sanctuarium at a level higher than the nave. The quadratum populi had nave and two aisles, filled by graves. There are no columns let, but their location can be determined thanks to the gaps between the graves; the interval between columns is about 3 meters. Since this is the width of the aisles, the plan is perhaps modular one. The atrium (12 x 7 m), with galeries (2 or 2,5 m) on three sides (except west) might have had a central fountain and is uncommon in Spain. It is surrounded by minor buildings: a large room in the center of the north side and square cells on the south. In the front of the quadratum populi, a later rectangular structure (a counter-apse according to the authors), shelters a privileged grave, intersecting the east the gallery. After the central door went out of use, the entrance to the church may have been either through western doors to the aisles or side doors (maybe on the south side).