Watchtower Porto Mourão

Category: Civil Architecture > Watchtower

District: Beja > Moura > Moura

Location

The Castro da Azougada stands on an isolated, rural hillock, on the left bank of the Ardila river, flanked by the Barranco da Azougada. Its topography is marked by a steep slope facing the river and a gentler slope to the east, where three platforms can be distinguished. The surrounding landscape is characterized by rugged terrain, dotted with holm oaks and olive trees, typical of the Moura region in Alentejo.

A Legacy of the Iron Age

This fortified settlement is a valuable testament to the Iron Age, having reached its zenith between the 6th and 4th centuries BC. It reveals itself as a proto-urban cluster, where life flourished and a local economy developed. Although archaeological interventions have been sporadic, the visible remains and recovered artifacts tell the story of an active community with connections to other cultures of the Iberian Peninsula and the Mediterranean.

Archaeological Remains and Discoveries

On site, it is possible to observe the remnants of ancient stone fortifications and lines of defensive embankments, now partially buried, which once protected the settlement. Excavations over the years have revealed an architectural complex at the top of the hill, including what appears to be an open central space surrounded by various compartments. Among these, the possible main entrance stands out due to its large size, suggesting intense occupation and several construction phases over time.

The artifacts found at Castro da Azougada are remarkable for their diversity and the wealth of detail they offer about the lives of its ancient inhabitants. These include stone objects such as millstones and axes, as well as ceramics from various periods, particularly bowls and vessels with distinct decorative patterns. Various metal artifacts were also collected, namely iron weapons and bronze pieces, such as belt buckles and ritual objects, which indicate the metallurgical mastery of the era.

Economy and Ways of Life

The analysis of the materials found at Castro da Azougada allows us to draw a picture of the economy and ways of life of this pre-Roman community. The presence of worked bones and riverine and marine shells indicates the exploitation of fluvial resources, the practice of fishing, and probably local textile production. Furthermore, faunal remains reveal a rural economy based on the raising of cattle and sheep/goats, complemented by hunting, particularly of deer. The identification of certain ceramics and marine shells also suggests the existence of contacts and commercial exchanges with coastal areas, revealing a dynamic settlement interconnected with other regions.

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