| Roman ruins of Santo André de Almoçageme | |
| Coordinates: | 38.8003°N -9.4681°W |
| Location: | Lisbon, Greater Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal |
| Type: | Ruins |
| Archaeologists: | unknown |
| Ownership: | Portuguese Republic |
| Public Access: | Public Roadway to Rodízio, Santo André de Almoçageme |
The Roman ruins of Santo Andre de Almoçageme (Portuguese: Ruinas romanas de Santo Andre de Almoçageme) is a Portuguese archaeological site located in the rural civil parish of Colares, in the municipality of Sintra. It includes a group of structures with typological, stylistic or historic value, whose structural elements are worthy of preservation.
The settlement was constructed between the 3rd and 5th centuries.[1]
In the 17th century a funerary inscription, unrelated to the physical structures was discovered, implying a more intricate history.[1]
In 1905, a polychromatic mosaic was discovered, in addition to artefacts linked to its Roman history.[1] The first official archaeological excavations began between 1980 and 1990: these excavations exposed a large area of the main house (pars urbana) that included several rooms with mosaic pavements to the north (that included peristyle).[1] In the excavated pars rustica a brick oven was discovered, used for producing ceramics.[1] Later, the structures became derelict and in the adjoining spaces a grave was discovered, where two newborn children were buried.
Inscriptions along the perimeter of the triangular plan are delimited by a metallic fence, defining the structures of the town.[1] The settlement includes walls composed of irregular masonry 30cm-40cmcm (10inches-20inchescm) in height.[1] Its plan essentially comprises various rectangular spaces, many corresponding to halls and paved with mosaics (in the north and west).[1]
In the excavated areas, there are two rectangular, plaster tanks: one situated at the end of the wall and the other irregular, located near a bunk of tiles.[1] Also located near the excavated zone is a brick oven and child's burial grave, both near to each other.[1]