Estela of Vila Boa

Category: Archaeology > Stele

District: Braga > Celorico de Basto > Vila Boa > Argontins

Location

The Vila Boa Stele is located in a serene corner of the village of Vila Boa, in the Argontins area, part of the municipality of Celorico de Basto, in the district of Braga. This site is immersed in a quiet rural environment, characteristic of the lush green landscapes of the Minho interior. The surroundings are marked by a succession of gentle hills, cultivated fields, and dense vegetation, providing a tranquil setting that invites introspection, far from the urban hustle and bustle.

Millennial Testimony

The Vila Boa Stele stands as a silent testimony to remote epochs, transporting its visitors to a deeply distant past. This monolithic monument represents a valuable link to the prehistoric communities that inhabited the Celorico de Basto region. Its presence indicates an ancestral occupation and the social and symbolic complexity of the populations who lived here thousands of years ago, offering a window into their rituals and their conception of the territory.

The Stone and Its Message

This stele, carved from granite, a material abundant in the region, stands out for its imposing form and robust simplicity. Although its exact message may today remain shrouded in mystery, it is undeniable that every curve and every surface of this stone carries a narrative. Monuments like the Vila Boa Stele were often erected for significant purposes, ranging from marking graves or territories to serving as symbols of power or rituals, making it a primordial artifact of art and belief.

Connection with Deep History

Visiting the Vila Boa Stele is embarking on a time travel, an encounter with the deepest roots of human presence in Portuguese territory. Its location, in harmony with the surrounding nature, amplifies the sense of contact with a history yet to be unveiled. The simple contemplation of this monument allows one to reflect on the persistence of memory and the ingenuity of ancient civilizations that shaped the landscape and culture of the region, leaving a lasting legacy in stone.

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

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