Visigothic period

The time period known to the scientific community as Late Antiquity covers mainly the time when the Visigoths ruled the Iberian Peninsula, and a little longer. During those centuries, from the 5th to the 8th century AD, Mérida was the capital of Hispania, then the capital of the Suebi kingdom and, finally, one of the main cities of the Visigothic kingdom, playing an outstanding role in the defence of Catholicism against the Arian doctrine of the Germanic peoples.

Materially, the surviving remains from this period are not as impressive as those from the Roman period, but we do have one of the best collections from this time in the whole of the Iberian Peninsula. Almost all the moments mentioned above are represented in it, some more, some less. Particularly notable was decorative sculpture, now associated particularly with the Church. Next in importance are the inscriptions, mostly funerary inscriptions. In terms of numismatics, many Byzantine and Visigothic pieces, some of them rare and valuable, have been acquired through purchase. Among the utensils, pottery once again dominates. And, finally, we cannot forget that some mosaics, in the unique case of Mérida, may have been used, restored or even produced until late in the 6th century.

The pieces from the Visigothic period on display to the public, pending the creation of a specific location for their proper exhibition, are distributed between Room VIII on the second floor of the Museum's main building and the Santa Clara building.