Fernão Vaz Necropolis

Category: Archaeology > Necropolis

District: Beja > Ourique > Santana da Serra > Lajes de Baixo

Location

The Necropolis of Fernão Vaz is located in Santana da Serra, in the municipality of Ourique, integrated into the serene landscape of Lajes de Baixo. This historic site stands on an elevation of about 176 meters, offering a characteristic panorama of the interior Alentejo. Its position is unique, situated on the right bank of the Mira river, where the waterway forms a wide curve, almost like a racket, giving it a striking natural setting. From here, visitors can contemplate the rural landscape that stretches to the ancient settlements of Cortadouro and Fernão Vaz, connecting with the ancestral dimension of this territory.

Traces of a Distant Time

The history of the Fernão Vaz Necropolis dates back to the Iron Age, a period between the 8th and 4th centuries BC. Identified in 1970, this necropolis is one of the clearest testimonies of pre-Roman human occupation in this Alentejo region. The site served as an important burial ground, closely linked to the settlement of Fernão Vaz, which was located a few meters away. Its existence reveals much about the funerary practices and social organization of the communities that lived here thousands of years ago.

The Funerary Architecture

Spread over an area of approximately 1150 square meters, the necropolis consists of two distinct sets of graves, divided by a central strip that possibly corresponded to the old access path to the settlement. To date, approximately forty graves have been identified. The particularity of this necropolis lies in the diversity of its funerary constructions, which evolved over time. The oldest graves feature a circular plan, with diameters ranging from 5 to 6.90 meters. In a later phase, the structures took on square or rectangular shapes, many of them adorned with steps surrounding them, offering a fascinating glimpse into the changes in rituals and architecture of the era.

The Preservation of Memory

The importance of the Fernão Vaz Necropolis for understanding the past of Alentejo led to conservation and restoration works. These interventions, carried out at the end of the 20th century, had the main objective of preserving the archaeological structures and allowing the public to contemplate these remains. A visit to this site invites reflection on the lives and customs of the communities that inhabited these lands millennia ago, offering a unique perspective on the ancient history of the region.

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