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the rich textures of archaeological remains. Indirect artificial light
reflected on the structures excavated help generate an enveloping
atmosphere where archaeological remains and must be protagonists
(fig. 11, 12 and 13).
An access located in the surrounding space of the Apeadero was
considered, more favorable to provide the ability to link naturally the
end of the tour with visits to the archaeological crypt Alcazar since
the site is really the origin of the palace complex itself. The decline
and travel through the connecting passage is considered necessary
as a prelude to the visit to the crypt, which began in the reception
area or vestibular hovered over the site. After touring an enclosure
that would have shown traces ranging from the s. IX B.C. the s. XII
finally arrive to the opposite corner of the courtyard where, through
the house No. 16, the visit to the original door first proposed Islamic
fortress, recently restored. The incorporation of this element sup-
posed link between historical sequence contained in the archaeolog-
ical crypt and visit to the Royal Palace, showing the original spatial
boundaries of the complex (Fig. 14).
Protection and cover of the archaeological
remains (2014-2015).
Due to budgetary reasons, it was reconsidered the execution of the
projected 2012 archaeological crypt and a new project that aimed to
recover the existing space once covered the area that had been the
subject of excavation, on provisional protection and reversible for
commissioned archaeological remains exhumed. The works, recent-
ly completed, developed the following work:
The protection of the site. Not suitable for visitors sector.
During the project various solutions that would ensure the conser-
vation of the site in the best possible conditions, the stability of the
system and its ability to be dismantled with relative ease in anticipa-
tion of a future resumption of the work of enhancement were stud-
ied. Noted that since the first approaches the possibility of a direct
filling with sand or gravel in the absence of guarantees for their me-
dium-term stability was discarded, given the considerable average
depth of the reservoir.
In general, after the work for the surface cleaning and preventive
treatment (Fig. 15) is disposed over the entire surface of the reservoir
and in direct contact with the remains, geotextile mesh and inert
sand (washed or river, without content of salts or clays ). On this
basis layer protection system consisting of different layers filling ex-
panded polystyrene base prismatic parts or blocks, alternating with
regularization -layers screeds compression-singing very small runs.
In the first layer of polystyrene pieces are cut and conform to irregu-
lar shapes of the archaeological structures, obtaining a molded pro-
file of the reservoir volume. Mean elements accentuated volumes or
more fragile previously protected with wooden crates or via tailored
to their specific conditions as in the case of a Roman wall of adobe
systems.
The use of expanded polystyrene as filling material is considered in-
ert and suitable for their condition insulation, ease of implementa-
tion (dry mount, based on discrete and light elements makes easy
handling and installation on site) and above all, by the immediacy
of its disassembly without affecting the conditions of stability and
soundness of the system. The chosen format is commonly used in
civil work, mainly in the implementation of lightening in contention
and slopes or road pavements (fig. 16 and 17).
In the northern sector of the square —with protected and covered
archaeological remains after excavations in the phase of research
I— was previously removed the top layer of fillings (inert gravel and
sand) in order to standardize the basic dimension for urbanization
end of the square.
Area for visitors
The structural solution proposed allows us to adjust with little com-
plexity, a space below ground intended for registration of a part of
the site, waiting to resume in the future the enhancement of the
entire site. The new crypt approximate area of 130 m2 is situated
on the southern side of the site and has restricted for maintenance,
conservation and research access. Although this is a limited sector
of full field, inherited the ideas and the approach of the original pro-
posal crypt although a tighter range. A discreet staircase deployed
between the rows of trees in the square we descend to this space,
whose geometry floor accommodates the archaeological remains,
therefore slightly rotated relative to the public space (fig. 18 and 19).
The archaeological remains left at sight are located at an approxi-
mately elevation of + 6.60m (over five meters deep on the level of
the square) and belong to the late-Republican Roman phase (60-30
BC). The constitute a part of the rooms and access passage towards
the central sector of the building and the columned space two bays,
which limits their southern front. The porch is constructed by la-
tericias columns plastered lime mortar, some of which reach two
meters preserved. The rooms are built with walls of opus africanum
and signinum opus, preserved much of its surface and only altered
by some gaps that possibly belonged to auxiliary wooden poles (fig.
20 and 21). In a later section of this article describes in detail these
visitable remains.
During the opening of the shaft for the execution of the access stairs
Roman and Islamic structures of remarkable entity that prompted a
proposal for inclusion in the exhibition space were found. Although
initially there were indications that the archaeological remains of
this sector of the site had been subjected to looting, the reality has
been very different from those found in a state of very superior to
that time in other areas of the site conservation. It’s walls belonging
to two houses and a crossroads of late-Caliphate-Taifa period (late
X-XI century), situated just 1.5 meters deep (fig. 22 and 23).
Given that in the rest of the site the Islamic quarter had been sac-
rificed due to its poor preservation, it was considered necessary to
propose its maintenance, due to its educational and scientific value,
as unique testimonial reference of the said period. In the lower level
walls, floors and columns of the Roman building withwell-preserved
elevations of 2’40m were located. The excavation allowed to locate
a low profile under Islamic walls that it showed, like nowhere else in
the square, the sequence of transformation of urban space in Seville
from the first century BC to the XI. A.D. Stands out for its impor-
tance a large deposit of silts and clays result of a High-Energy Event
(Tsunami or Great Storm) occurred in late II -early III century AD,
causing the destruction of the Roman building and certainly part
of the city of Hispalis and especially its port, area where this large
barn or warehouse was built. The sequence is completed with the
location of the foundations of a Visigoth monastery in the late fifth
century.
