São Gens Archaeological Site

Category: Nature > Reserva natural

District: Guarda > Celorico da Beira > Celorico da Beira > Quinta da Picheleira

Location

The São Gens Archaeological Station is located at Quinta da Picheleira, an area in the locality of Celorico da Beira. This site is part of the municipality of the same name and benefits from surroundings that, in ancient times, proved to be strategic. Its proximity to the Mondego River was, for example, an important factor for the human occupations that left their mark here.

Testimonies of a Remote Past

The São Gens archaeological site offers a window into the history of Celorico da Beira, revealing vestiges of human occupations from different periods. The findings indicate that the site was inhabited in the Roman period, with the presence of scattered materials on the surface. However, it is during the Early Middle Ages that this site gains greater relevance, with evidence of a significant and organized presence.

The Necropolis and the Fortification Carved into the Rock

One of the most notable aspects of the São Gens Station is its rock-cut necropolis, one of the largest in the region. Carved directly into the rock, about fifty-four tombs can be observed, testifying to the funerary practices of the Early Middle Ages. These burials, arranged to take advantage of the local geology, offer a unique perspective on the life and death of the people who lived here.

In addition to the necropolis, the site houses a rocky fortification, also dating from the same medieval period. This defensive structure, also adapted and sculpted into the rocky landscape, reveals the strategic importance of the location and the ingenuity of the communities in protecting themselves, although it does not share the same physical space as the burial area.

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