Research

Created in 1838 as the Archaeological Museum of Mérida, the current National Museum of Roman Art has been playing an essential research role in Spanish archaeology for over a century, which is reflected in its abundant bibliographical production.

With its new administrative designation in 1975 as a National Centre focused on the peninsula’s Roman period, its organisation, reach and status became clear. This new idea was articulated under the concept of a Museum and Research Centre within a National Network made up of other centres such as Altamira and Cartagena, and to which other institutions are being added. The National Museum of Roman Art, which is now recognised as an authentic Centre for Roman Studies, is moving in this direction.

Research at the National Museum of Roman Art is based on our collections from the Roman world up to the Visigothic period, materials and data that serve as a vehicle for analysing the site of Colonia Augusta Emerita itself and the Lusitanian-Roman and Visigothic lands amidst which its identity was set.

Its international character is reflected in a wide-ranging joint research work with local, regional, national and international scientific institutions in order to create multidisciplinary teams to enhance and enrich scientific programmes, whether in-house or in collaboration with other institutions.

Research is understood by the National Museum of Roman Art to be a basic part of the overall activities of a museum, and for this reason, the Research Department [Link externo] and the Centre for Roman Studies coordinate with the Documentation, Conservation and Outreach departments to make its scientific findings available to society as a whole, thus making research an applied and profitable activity.