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The key epigraphic find was the 16 red paint marks, probably ochre, and 3 black charcoal marks. Additionally, 58 other engravings were also uncovered. These inscriptions are “all linked to the phases of extracting and shaping the stone in the quarry.”
One of the red ochre inscriptions found at the Spanish Roman quarry. ( Journal of Roman Archaeology )
Traditionally, epigraphy has often proved to be a frustrating exercise for historians. The center of Tarraco and the Roman quarry are located 5.6 miles (9 kms) apart.
In this case, another challenge was that the laborers hired to work at the sites were the ones who made the inscriptions. For them, the interpretation of the language was merely functional and used solely to mark the progress of the building, and the quantity of limestone being used, along with the dates of construction. This made the epigraphic reconstruction an even more challenging task.