Category: Archaeology > Dolmen
District: Aveiro > Sever do Vouga > Portas Vermelhas > Rio Bom
Pedra da Moura is situated in a rural and forested area of the municipality of Sever do Vouga, in the locality of Portas Vermelhas. It is located on the slopes of the Arestal mountain range, positioned halfway up the hillside, surrounded by the region's characteristic vegetation, such as pines and scrub.
This site is a testament to human presence and beliefs in very ancient times. Pedra da Moura, also known as Dólmen da Cerqueira or Anta da Cerqueira, is a megalithic monument, a structure built during Prehistory. It is estimated to date back to the Neolithic period, about 5 to 6 thousand years ago, although it may have been used or modified in later periods, such as the Bronze Age.
It is considered one of the best-preserved megalithic monuments found in the Sever do Vouga area, offering insight into the funerary and social practices of the communities that inhabited this region millennia ago.
The main part of the monument is a funerary chamber, originally intended for burials. This chamber has a polygonal shape, defined by several large vertical stones, called orthostats. These stones support a robust capstone on top. Connected to the chamber was a corridor, also formed by stones, which allowed access to its interior. The entire complex was initially covered by a tumulus, an artificial mound made of earth and stones, usually delimited at the base by a stone circle.
On the surface of Pedra da Moura's granite outcrop, rock carvings can be observed, which are designs incised into the rock. These marks date from the Bronze Age and feature a variety of geometric and abstract motifs. Among the designs are cup-marks, circles (some with central dots or appendages), spirals, arcs, and intertwined lines. The presence of these carvings adds an extra layer of interest to the site, being elements of prehistoric art and possibly linked to ancient symbolism or rituals.
The name by which the site is popularly known, "Pedra da Moura" (Stone of the Enchanted Moorish Woman), is associated with ancient legends of Portuguese oral tradition. One of these stories tells that an enchanted Moorish woman (moura) transformed into stone at this location to escape danger. Local folklore keeps this narrative alive, sometimes mentioning that on certain nights, sounds associated with the petrified moura can be heard, lending the site an aura of mystery and folk tale.
Due to its age, structure, and the rock art markings it contains, Pedra da Moura holds significant historical and cultural value. It is a site that has been studied by archaeologists, contributing to the knowledge of Prehistory in the Sever do Vouga region and the Iberian Northwest. The recognition of its importance led to its classification as a Property of Public Interest, ensuring its protection and preservation.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 40.77708563973749,-8.36333461418467
Coordinates DMS: 40°46'37.5"N 08°21'48.0"W
Weather Portas Vermelhas
On-duty Pharmacy Portas Vermelhas
