Category: Civil Architecture > Museum
District: Aveiro > Arouca > Belide > Parque de Negócios de Escariz
The Urreira 4 Cairn is strategically located in the town of Belide, municipality of Arouca, district of Aveiro, in a peculiar area: the Escariz Business Park. This setting offers a unique perspective to the visitor, who can observe an ancient monument preserved within a contemporary environment. Its presence in this modern context creates an interesting contrast, allowing for contemplation of the region's deep history while being surrounded by present-day activity.
The site constitutes a stop and reflection point, inserted in an environment that, despite being dedicated to business activity, demonstrates an appreciation for the cultural and archaeological heritage present there. The Cairn stands out as a testament to the landscape of yesteryear, providing an immediate connection to the earliest human occupation in this area.
The Urreira 4 Cairn is a remarkable vestige of the megalithic period, dating back to ancient times, somewhere between the Neolithic and the Chalcolithic, thousands of years ago. These funerary monuments, characteristic of the Iberian Peninsula's prehistory, are structures erected for the purpose of serving as collective tombs for the communities that inhabited these lands. They represent a valuable testimony to the beliefs and rituals associated with death and the afterlife by the societies that built them.
Exploring this site offers an opportunity to connect with the complexity and ingenuity of prehistoric populations. The Urreira 4 Cairn, as an integral part of Arouca's archaeological heritage, is a crucial element for understanding the cultures that shaped the landscape and identity of the region long before our era, revealing their social, religious, and technological practices.
Typically, a cairn is composed of an artificial mound of earth and stones (the tumulus or cairn itself) that covers and protects an internal burial chamber, usually a dolmen or passage tomb. Although the entirety of its internal structure is not always visible, the external mound of the Urreira 4 Cairn is the most prominent and recognizable part, rising gently over the surrounding terrain. Its size and shape are indicative of the collective effort and social organization required for its construction in prehistoric times.
Close observation of this monument allows the visitor to appreciate the scale of its conception and the durability of the materials used. The Urreira 4 Cairn is a palpable example of megalithic funerary architecture, whose apparent simplicity hides profound symbolism and a complex function in the ritual life of the communities that once erected it.
The Urreira 4 Cairn is a heritage site that has undergone interventions for its preservation and enhancement, making it accessible to the public. By being conserved and integrated into the Escariz Business Park, this archaeological site functions as a space where the memory of the distant past intersects with contemporaneity. The visitor has the opportunity to approach and observe this millennia-old structure up close, benefiting from an environment that seeks to contextualize its importance.
The existence of the Urreira 4 Cairn, duly identified and safeguarded, underscores the commitment to protecting and disseminating the valuable archaeological legacy of the municipality of Arouca. It allows for an immersive and educational experience, inviting discovery and appreciation of one of the oldest traces of human presence in the region, available to anyone interested in local history and archaeology.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 40.9461303,-8.4031225
Coordinates DMS: 40°56'46.1"N 08°24'11.2"W
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