Bridge of the Slab Grotto

Category: Archaeology > Cave

District: Lisboa > Oeiras > Porto Salvo > Laje de Baixo

Location

The Gruta da Ponte da Laje, also known as Gruta dos Mouros, is located in Laje de Baixo, within the locality of Porto Salvo, in the municipality of Oeiras. This archaeological site is situated on the left bank of the Laje stream, a short distance upstream from the bridge that gave it its name, and which already existed at the time of the first investigations in the 19th century.

Formation and Environment

This is a natural karst cavity, developed in an outcrop of hard limestones. The grotto is characterized by a narrow and sinuous interior gallery, extending for approximately eighteen meters, culminating in a small niche. Its entrance has a distinctive horseshoe shape, which may have been adapted by the people who used it over the millennia.

Testimonies of the Past

The Gruta da Ponte da Laje is a site of remarkable archaeological importance, revealing itself as a necropolis, meaning an ancient burial place. Archaeological interventions, initiated in 1879 and continued in the mid-20th century, uncovered traces of human presence from the Chalcolithic period to the Bronze Age. Among the most significant findings are individual burials and ceramic pieces, including unusually arranged vases, suggesting complex ritual practices.

A Look at Ancient Traditions

This site offers a valuable perspective on the beliefs and funerary rituals of the prehistoric communities that inhabited the Oeiras region. The presence of artifacts from different eras attests to the prolonged use of the cave as a symbolic and burial space. The recovered materials, some of which are preserved in museums, are crucial elements for understanding the cultures and societies that lived in this territory thousands of years ago.

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