The Roman olive oil mill at Barbariga and its ancient harbour
The Roman oil mill at Stara Barbariga formed part of a coastal estate. A large cistern and submerged harbour remains survive beside the mill.
Stone remains of olive pressing
In a long room at the mill, archaeologists found a row of nine stone bases for the upright beams of olive presses. The room measured about 40 metres by 10 metres.
Channels carried liquid from the pressing area to settling tanks, where workers collected and separated the oil after pressing. The surviving parts of the mill belong to different phases of use from the 1st to the late 6th century AD. Alterations in late antiquity reduced its production capacity.
A cistern divided into three aisles
A Roman cistern stands about 50 metres southeast of the press room. It is almost 22 metres long and just over eight metres wide, with walls surviving to a height of three metres. This was an above-ground structure, rather than a tank sunk into the ground.
The builders laid ceramic tiles in a herringbone pattern on the floor. Two rows of masonry supports divided the interior into three aisles, probably covered by vaults. The cistern could hold about 430 cubic metres of water.
Amphorae and transport by sea
During the 2026 excavations, archaeologists found two kilns for making amphorae. These ceramic vessels carried oil. The kilns add another part to the production process at Barbariga: alongside pressing olives, workers made the containers for shipping the oil at the same site.
In the bay, underwater archaeologists investigated the remains of an ancient harbour structure about 57 metres long, with arms forming an L shape. The harbour served loading and sea transport in connection with the nearby oil mill.
The coastal villa and the mill’s location
The peristyle villa lies on the coast about 300 metres southeast of the mill. It had an inner courtyard surrounded by a portico, rooms with mosaics and wall paintings, and a bathing suite. The villa and mill probably belonged to the same estate originally.
The map pin marks the remains of the mill inland from Stara Barbariga, in the Vodnjan area. It does not mark an entrance to the villa or a car park.
Address: Stara Barbariga, Peroj, područje Vodnjana