Category: Archaeology > Farmstead
District: Beja > Ourique > Alcaria de Fernão Vaz > Marchique Nova
Alcaria 2 is located in Marchique Nova, an area integrated into the locality of Alcaria de Fernão Vaz, in the municipality of Ourique. The site is set in a tranquil, rural environment, typical of the Alentejo landscape, characterized by vast horizons and a deep connection to the land.
This site corresponds to a small necropolis, an ancient cemetery, dating back to the Bronze Age. Located in the second millennium BC, Alcaria 2 is a direct link to the communities that inhabited this region millennia ago, offering a perspective on their funerary practices and their relationship with the territory.
The site comprises three circular-plan funerary structures. Although the passage of time and modern agricultural activities have caused some damage, it is still discernible that the site developed from a main funerary monument, to which other smaller structures were later added. These monuments, generally intended for individuals, were constructed with a cist (a type of box made of slabs) or a simple pit. Inside, bodies were deposited, sometimes in a fetal or lateral position, and accompanied by objects, such as ceramic pieces. The entire structure was then covered by a tumulus, an artificial mound of earth that stood out in the landscape, marking the resting place.
A visit to Alcaria 2 provides a moment of reflection on the ancestries of Alentejo. It allows one to understand how the ancient populations of the Bronze Age organized their rites of passage and how they honored their dead, revealing important aspects of the life and beliefs of these communities. It is an invitation to imagine the people who inhabited this remote place, and how they shaped and were shaped by the Alentejo landscape.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 37.57203326745116, -8.281571773991523
Coordinates DMS: 37°34'19.3"N 08°16'53.7"W
On-duty Pharmacy Alcaria de Fernão Vaz
