Forjães Menhir

Category: Civil Architecture > Museum

District: Braga > Esposende > Forjães

Location

In Forjães, Esposende municipality, the Menir de Forjães is located in an area that historically marked a division of territories. It is situated in Bouça dos Marcos, near the place of Infia. This position is unique because it lies on the border between the parish of Forjães and that of São Romão de Neiva, formerly serving as a meeting point between municipalities and even districts. It is a place that invites observation of the surrounding landscape and reflection on the antiquity of borders.

An Ancient Legacy

The Menir de Forjães is an impressive monolithic stone, that is, carved from a single block, which transports us directly to the megalithic period. This stone structure is a valuable testimony to an ancestral culture, reflecting practices and beliefs of communities that inhabited the region thousands of years ago. Its presence suggests a symbolic or ritualistic importance for the peoples who erected it, remaining as a silent evocation of the distant past.

The Border Landmark

More than a simple monolith, the Menir de Forjães functioned as an ancient territorial landmark. Its strategic position indicates that it served, for a long time, as a natural divider, delimiting the borders between neighboring parishes. Beside it, another, more recent stone, dated 1814, can be observed, bearing the initials "S R", in reference to São Romão de Neiva, reinforcing the historical importance of this site as a demarcation point. This duality of landmarks underscores the continuity of the place's function throughout the centuries.

The Rediscovery

Although its existence dates back to prehistoric times, the Menir de Forjães was rediscovered in 1992. This discovery was due to the work of archaeologist Dr. Brochado de Almeida, scientific consultant to the Esposende Municipal Council, during his prospecting work for the archaeological charter of the municipality. The identification of this structure allowed for a greater understanding of human presence and ancient social organizations in the Forjães region.

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