Mamoa da Quinta da Laje

Category: Archaeology > Mound

District: Aveiro > Santa Maria da Feira > Pigeiros

Location:

The Mamoa da Quinta da Laje stands next to National Road 1, in the Quinta da Laje area, in the parish of Pigeiros, municipality of Santa Maria da Feira, district of Aveiro. Situated in a transitional area between rural and urban, it is close to small industries and scattered dwellings.

The monument occupies a gentle plateau, slightly raised in relation to the road, which allows for some privacy and reduces traffic noise. Despite its proximity to maturing constructions, it retains a tranquil setting, dominated by agricultural land.

Origin and historical value:

It is a collective tomb from the Neo-Chalcolithic period, dating back approximately 5,000 years. This type of funerary monument, known as mamoa or anta, bears witness to practices of depositing human remains and rites of passage in prehistory.

Since December 31, 1997, it has been classified as a Property of Public Interest (Decree No. 67/97), a recognition that underlines the archaeological and cultural importance of this example of megalithic heritage in Portugal.

Structure and conservation:

The mamoa presents itself as an ovoid-shaped earthen mound, approximately 20 meters in diameter. The central burial chamber is no longer visible, due to interventions and natural erosive processes over the centuries.

Currently, small areas of old excavation can be observed on the surface, but the original shape of the mound is maintained, revealing the careful construction by prehistoric peoples in placing layers of stone and earth.

Surrounding environment:

The site combines rural elements (such as cultivated fields and scattered pine forest) with the context of light urban expansion, conferring a unique contrast between ancient heritage and contemporary development.

For visitors, this secluded spot offers a moment of outdoor archaeological contemplation, in a setting where the silence of the past emerges amidst modern communication routes.

Sources: https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mamoa_da_Quinta_da_Laje

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