Mesas do Castelinho Village

Category: Archaeology > Fortified Settlement

District: Beja > Almodôvar > Santa Clara-a-Nova

Location and Historical Context

, Located near the village of Santa Clara-a-Nova, in the municipality of Almodôvar, Portugal.

, Founded during the Chalcolithic period and occupied in Roman and Islamic times.

, Ruins partially destroyed in 1986, leading to subsequent archaeological interventions.

Description of the Archaeological Site

, Situated in an isolated region, far from the coast, with natural defenses provided by rivers and ravines.

, Composed of two main platforms, one trapezoidal and the other circular, formed by walls.

, Occupies an area of approximately four hectares, with dimensions of 250 m in length and 100 m in width.

, Discoveries of artifacts such as ceramics, amphorae, Italian terra sigillata, and traces of bones and metal pieces.

Historical and Cultural Significance

, Classified as a Property of Public Interest in 1990.

, Vestiges indicate occupation from the Chalcolithic period to Islamic rule.

, Discovery of a funerary stele with an inscription in Southwestern Script.

Popular Legend Associated with the Site

, Account of a resident who claimed to have been visited by a woman who lived underground with a "lizard man".

, Belief that people lived in underground houses in Mesas do Castelinho, possibly related to the ruins below the ground.

History and Phases of Occupation

, Originally a fortified settlement, part of the pre-Roman riverine settlements of the southwest region of the Iberian Peninsula.

, Three distinct phases of occupation; foundation and original occupation, contact with Roman civilization, and reuse of structures during Islamic rule.

Discovery and Archaeological Studies

, Referenced by José Leite de Vasconcelos in 1933 and described as "wall on a hill" and "walled city".

, In-depth studies initiated in 1948 and archaeological interventions since 1987.

, Excavations to discover the organization and periods of occupation, preserve important structures, and collect the archaeological spoils.

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

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