Roman quarry of El Mèdol facts for kids
Quick facts for kids UNESCO World Heritage Site |
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| Location | Tarragona, Spain |
| Part of | Archaeological Ensemble of Tárraco |
| Criteria | Cultural: (ii), (iii) |
| Inscription | 2000 (24th Session) |
| Area | 5.3 ha (0.020 sq mi) |
The Roman quarry of El Mèdol is a huge ancient stone quarry. It was first dug out during the time of the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire. This means it's very, very old!
This quarry helped build many important structures in Tarraco. Tarraco was the Roman name for the city we now call Tarragona in Spain. It was once the capital of a big Roman area called Hispania Citerior.
Contents
What is El Mèdol?
El Mèdol quarry is very large. It is over 200 meters wide and between 10 to 40 meters deep. It is the biggest of six Roman quarries found near Tarraco.
The Witness Column
In the middle of the quarry, you can see a special column. It is made of the original rock that was left untouched. This is called a "witness column." Roman quarries often have these columns. They show how much rock was removed around them.
The Stone from El Mèdol
The quarry provided a type of stone called "Soldo" Miocene limestone. This stone has colors ranging from white to pink, often with a golden tint. While it wasn't used for the most detailed Roman buildings, it was perfect for many other structures. This includes the famous Cathedral of Santa Tecla built much later.
How Stone Traveled to the City
The El Mèdol quarry is very close to the ancient Via Augusta. This was a major Roman road, like a highway of its time. Today, the modern National Road 340 follows parts of this old Roman path.
Transporting the Rock
The Romans used the Via Augusta to move huge amounts of stone. About 50,000 cubic meters of rock were transported from the quarry. Most of this stone traveled about 6 kilometers to reach Tarraco. Imagine how many carts and workers it took!
Visiting the Quarry
Today, you can easily visit the El Mèdol quarry. It is located near the National Road 340. You can also get there from the AP-7 highway, near a place called La Mora.
A World Heritage Site
The El Mèdol quarry is part of something very special. It is included in the UNESCO World Heritage list. This list protects important places around the world. The quarry is part of the larger archaeological complex of Tarraco.
See also
- In Spanish: Cantera romana de El Médol para niños
