Provincial Archaeology Museum of Badajoz
Introduction
The Provincial Archaeological Museum of Badajoz is located inside the famous Alcazaba of Badajoz. The Palace of the Counts of La Roca was one of the buildings added to this fortress. Now, the palace’s main building serve as an archaeology museum. This airy red brick building serves its purpose as a museum and a central point for the archaeological finds in the province. The museum came into existence in 1867 to house all archaeological finds.
Roman Period
There are wonderful mosaics on display inside the museum. These mosaics were discovered in the Province of Badajoz and they are still remarkably in good condition. Among the Roman artifacts, there is a statue of Emperor Tiberius (14 BC – 37 AD). It have come from Miróbriga in Portugal. A pile of Roman coin is also on display inisde the museum.
Visigothic Period
In the Visigoth section of the museum, there are columns and few pilaster on display. Among other objects are the Visigoths art patterns. These patterns were one of the main decorations used in the buildings. Among them is a 7th century pilaster which was discovered in Almendral. A tombstone dated with the Visigoth reign of a monarch is also on display.
Islamic Period
Inside the museum, there are few tombstones from the Muslim period in Badajoz. One of them has fom a Muslim graveyard and it shows the date of the death as 8 November 1022. Another stone comes from the grave of al-Mansur. His full name was Abu Muhammad Abdullah ben Muhammad ben Musalima al-Aftas. He passed away on 437 Hijri (1045). Details on the stone belonging to Abu Abdullah Muhammad ben al-Baqqar shows his date of the death as 25 December 1150.
Other items from the Islamic Period include zoomorphic, ceramic jugs, oil lamps and coins. Few capitals are also on display inside the museum. Capitals were used by the Romans and later by the Muslim architects to enhance the beauty of the buildings.
Christian Period
From the Christian period, there are few shields on display. One of them belongs to Joan I and Philip of Castile and another to Carlos V. One document is a some sort of agreement or correspondence between Alfonso Sanchez and King Denis of Portugal. Stirrups, horse bites and weapons are among other items which are on display.