Rock engravings of Zebral or Laje dos Cantinhos

Category: Archaeology > Engraving

District: Braga > Vieira do Minho > Ruivães

Location:

The site is located in the parish of Ruivães, municipality of Vieira do Minho, halfway up the slope of Mount Toco. Surrounded by cork oak and pine forests, it is situated on the left bank of the Soutinho stream, benefiting from a tranquil natural setting with gentle slopes that offer good views over the surrounding valley.

The landscape is marked by granite outcrops and small elevations, offering a rustic environment where the three slabs with the engravings stand out against the light granite, creating a point of interest integrated into nature that invites contemplation.

Archaeological Aspects:

The engravings are inscribed on three slabs of a large granite outcrop, extending for about 30 meters. Geometric motifs predominate squares, reticles, and “cup-marks” but there are also cruciform representations and circles superimposed on crosses, some filled with shapes similar to five-pointed stars.

The images were executed using techniques of pecking, abrasion, and hammering, creating grooves approximately 2 cm wide and 1 cm deep. The simplicity of the lines contrasts with the precision required to engrave the granite, revealing the authors' high level of skill.

Significance and Heritage:

The representations suggest a symbolic-religious context, possibly linked to prehistoric rituals, although the exact chronology is not fully defined. This symbolic nature makes the engravings a valuable testimony to human occupation from the earliest Prehistory to the Castro populations mentioned in traditional records.

Classified as a Site of Public Interest (Ordinance No. 206/2013), the site is part of a special protection zone, which ensures the preservation of the engravings and their natural context. This protection ensures that visitors find the surfaces preserved and properly signposted, without external interference.

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