Aliviada Dolmen

Category: Civil Architecture > Museum

District: Aveiro > Arouca > Caçus

Location

The Aliviada Dolmen is located in the locality of Caçus, in the municipality of Arouca, set in a rural and tranquil landscape. It is bordered by woods and vegetation, next to the verge of a national road. Situated on a small granite outcrop, the site provides a serene and natural environment for observing this ancestral vestige.

Prehistoric Testimony

This remarkable megalithic monument, also known as Mamoa I da Aliviada, dates back to the Chalcolithic (Late Neolithic/Chalcolithic) period, from the late 4th millennium BC or early 3rd millennium BC. Originally, it functioned as a dolmen, meaning a collective tomb, reflecting the funerary practices of the prehistoric communities that inhabited the Arouca region. Its presence is a testament to the ancient and significant human presence in this area.

Structure and Current Remains

In its original form, the dolmen presented a considerable sub-elliptical configuration, reaching approximately 27 meters on its major axis and 22 meters on its minor axis. Its opening was oriented to the south-southeast, while the header pointed northwest. Built with robust granite blocks, the monument included a chamber and a corridor. Today, it is quite fragmented, with only one standing stone (vertical stone) maintaining its original position, surrounded by remnants of the other stones that once composed its structure.

The Forgotten Art of Megalithism

An aspect of great interest regarding the Aliviada Dolmen is the fact that, in the past, it featured engraved and painted iconographic motifs on its stones. Although this rock art is no longer visible, its initial existence highlights the cultural and symbolic importance of the site for the communities that erected it. These decorative elements offered a glimpse into the artistic expression and beliefs of the Megalithic peoples.

National Heritage and its Fragility

Classified as a National Monument since 1992, the Aliviada Dolmen is recognized for its heritage and historical value. Despite its relevance, the monument has suffered considerable damage over time, partly due to human interventions, such as bonfires lit within it. Its current condition, with a high degree of ruin, attests to the passage of time and the need for the safeguarding of historical legacies of this nature.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt