Description
The Roman villa of Bruñel is a clear exponent of the passage of the Romans through Jaén, being an example of the typical Roman villa under imperial and being formed the archaeological site by an Iberian necropolis from the 4th century a. C. and a Roman occupation that extends from the 2nd century d. C. to the 4th century d.
The name Bruñel comes from the Latin word Balneum (bathroom), with the evolution of the mozarina degenerated in the word Bruñel (spa).
Despite the obvious Roman present, there is a record of an Iberian necropolis dating from the 4th century BC and the presence of material and constructive remains.
The villa of Bruñel would be framed in the Roman road that connected Catulo with the current Guadix and, according to the Roman constituency, was attached to the Roman province of the Carthaginense, with capital in Cartago Nova, present Cartagena. The Roman occupation of the village of Bruñel is referred to three phases throughout the II and IV centuries d. C. and according to its evolution, it can be distinguished the socio-economic changes that the Spanish population suffered.
A first phase corresponding to the 2nd century d. C. and is formed by an irregular cruciform building to which contrasts are associated, a tank and an arc of circular structure. The material used is the rich opus camenticium or Roman cement; in addition to stucco with large bermellon mirrors, dark blue or green, separated by dark bands and columns.
The second phase of the villa corresponds to the 3rd century d. C., being a well preserved villa with pretensions. It highlights the presence of an imposing Atrium with impluvium and a peristil around which most rooms and rooms are articulated. It highlights the decoration with the presence of mosaics with generally geometrical compositions, with swastika bands or braids of different ends or combinations of the previous ones with medallions with human figures; as well as the presence of stucco decorated in most rooms. It highlights the mosaic with the figure of Tetis that is currently located in the Museum of Jaén.
The third phase of the villa adheres to the 4th century d. C., a century of socio-economic changes that are reflected in the villa, demolishing part of the previous phase and replacing it with another building without pretensions, more focused on agricultural activity. These are two buildings, one of them rectangular with apses marked on its minor sides and another building with a large courtyard around which different rooms and rooms are connected with the peristil through two corridors. This latter building would be a courthouse, being the different rooms without paving warehouses or blocks. While the rectangular building, remains of the village of the 3rd century d. C., would be preserved as an urban villa, that is, the area reserved as the home of the owners.
The end of the villa occurred as a result of a great fire, evidenced by the carbonized remains found, although it is discussed whether it happened in the V century d. C. or VIII d. C.
