Rethinking Santiña Street in Pontevedra: Archaeological and Historiographical Challenges in Identifying Roman Roads in Modern Urban and Peri-Urban Contexts

Abstract One of the most widely accepted hypotheses regarding Roman Road XIX of the Itinerarium Antonini Augusti , as it passed through the Galician city of Pontevedra, is that it crossed the Lérez River approximately at the location of the present-day Burgo Bridge and then continued northwards along what is now Santiña Street. Currently, an archaeological monitoring programme is being carried out on Santiña Street, and the results obtained raise some doubts about the route traditionally attributed to the Roman road. This case serves as a contemporary example highlighting the complexities involved in accurately identifying Roman roads within the landscape, particularly in areas that have been reused diachronically. The research process developed in this study is considered potentially useful for examining other modern urban or peri-urban areas thought to be associated with Roman roads. The article begins with a brief outline of the objectives and methodology employed. It then offers a historiographical review of the research concerning the passage of Roman Road XIX through the modern city of Pontevedra. The study goes on to examine the Roman evidence discovered in the city to date. Finally, the preliminary results of the archaeological monitoring on Santiña Street are presented, shedding light on the uncertainties involved in identifying segments of the Roman road network in present-day urban contexts.