Castle Old Fort

Category: Archaeology > Hillfort

District: Évora > Alandroal > Terena > Hortinhas

Castro de Castelo Velho

Location

- Located in the parish of Terena, municipality of Alandroal, Central Alentejo.

- Close to the Lucefécit stream, in an isolated rural area.

History

- Chalcolithic settlement with occupation starting in the Chalcolithic period.

- Became a center of metallurgical activities in the late Bronze Age.

- Occupied by Muslim settlers during the Islamic medieval era.

- First archaeological excavations carried out by Manuel Calado in the 1990s.

Architecture

- Fortified settlement with an irregular plan and several construction phases.

- Remains of walls, towers and access gates along the perimeter.

- Located in an elevated position, protected by the river and sloping banks.

- Main structure accessible from the western end.

Points of Interest

Casa da Moura (Moorish House)

Small gallery on the northern slope, possibly used for mining or rituals.

- Remains of ceramics, foundry slag and remnants of metal structures.

- Settlement "Castelo Velho 2" nearby, with similar characteristics.

- Sanctuary of Endovelicus in São Miguel da Mota, about 1500 meters away.

Accessibility

- Narrow road that allows access to the site from the west side.

- Main entrance located on a shale platform.

Natural Defense

- Elevated position with sloping banks to the east and west, providing natural defense.

Cultural Relevance

- Important testimony of metallurgical activities and various occupations throughout the centuries.

- Connection with ethnographic sanctuaries and Moorish traditions in the region.

Sources: https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castro_de_Castelo_Velho_(Terena)

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