Leceia Caves

Category: Nature > Caves

District: Lisboa > Oeiras > Barcarena > Carrascal

Location

The Leceia Caves are located in the town of Carrascal, within the parish of Barcarena, in the municipality of Oeiras, in the district of Lisbon. Their characteristic position places them in an environment that, despite being close to more urbanized areas, retains natural elements that favored the formation of these cavities. The caves are situated in a landscape that bears witness to the interaction between natural geology and human presence over the millennia.

A Testimony of Prehistory

The most significant value of the Leceia Caves lies in their profound archaeological importance, ranking them as one of the most relevant sites of the Chalcolithic, or Copper Age, in the Iberian Peninsula. Approximately 4,500 years ago, these caves served as shelter and, fundamentally, as burial sites for the communities that inhabited this region. Excavation campaigns carried out at the site have revealed a vast collection of artifacts, including decorated ceramics, tools crafted from stone and bone, personal adornments, and remains that attest to the practice of agriculture and animal husbandry. These findings offer a privileged glimpse into the daily lives, beliefs, and social organization of their ancient inhabitants, making the caves a true underground archive of the past.

Natural Structure and Preservation

As a geological formation, the Leceia Caves correspond to a set of natural cavities resulting from the action of geological processes over millions of years. These cavities, due to their structure and depth, provided a naturally protected refuge and were essential for the remarkable preservation of the archaeological remains found within them. The peculiar environment of the caves, with its temperature and humidity characteristics, contributed to the conservation of organic and inorganic materials, allowing the history of the prehistoric communities of Leceia to reach the present day with remarkable clarity.

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