The Archaeological Site of Lépida Celsa

About this heritage

The archaeological site of Lépida Celsa is one of the most important Roman archaeological sites in the Aragón region, located near the town of Velilla de Ebro, in the province of Zaragoza. This site offers a valuable insight into a Roman city that thrived in the 1st century BC and played a crucial role in the Romanization of the region.

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The Colonia Celsa located in the town of Eras de Velilla de Ebro is a Roman colony whose foundation dates back to the year 48 BC under the name Victrix Iulia Lepida or Colonia Victrix Iulia Celsa. The site «Lepida Celsa», corresponding to the Colonia Iulis Uictrix Lepida and the ancient Iberian city of Kelse, constitutes one of the most important and interesting archaeological zones of this chronology in the entire Autonomous Community of Aragón. The first records of the presence of this important archaeological site date back to the Middle Ages; as early as 1435 there are reports of the discovery of coins, statues, and mosaics that were studied and published in the writings of P. Risco, Zurita, C. Bermúdez, and Labaña.

The exact location of the Iberian oppidum of Kelse is still uncertain. The topographical study of the settlement seems to indicate the high likelihood of the hill located east of the current urban area of Velilla de Ebro, which supports the church of San Nicolás. Little is known about the origin of this city, already mentioned by Ptolemy, although its existence can certainly be traced back to the 4th century BC.

The foundation of this colony is attributed to Marcus Aemilius Lepidus in the year 44 BC, who established a city near and upon a pre-existing Iberian city, Kelse, under the name Colonia Iulia Uictrix Lepida. After Lepidus fell out of favor around 36 BC, the city changed its name to Colonia Iulia Uictrix Celsa, Latinizing the name of the ancient Iberian city. It was the first foundation in the Ebro valley of an Immune Colony of free Roman citizens. The city's life was relatively brief, as it was abandoned around 70 AD, largely due to the rise of Caesaraugusta, although the turbulent events surrounding the imperial family succession in 68 AD, still largely unknown, should not be overlooked. Its location favored its development as an important military and commercial strategic point. It reached a population of 3,500 people made up of Italic emigrants, clients of Caesar and Pompey, and indigenous aristocracies.

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Lépida Celsa is a site of great cultural and scientific importance. It provides a detailed view of Roman urbanization in Hispania and its impact on the region. Additionally, it contributes to the knowledge of local and regional history and is a valuable resource for archaeological research.