Monument to the Neolithic of Leceia

Category: Civil Architecture > Memorial

District: Lisboa > Oeiras > Barcarena > Leceia

Location

The Leceia Neolithic Monument is located in the center of the locality of Leceia, an area of Barcarena, in the municipality of Oeiras. Its central position in a roundabout, built where the old market once stood, marks a visible landmark for those passing through the area. This roundabout connects important roads such as Rua da Fonte, Estrada de Leceia, and Rua Pedro Álvares Cabral, situated in an urban area with a steep gradient.

The construction of the monument was integrated into an urban requalification project that aimed to improve the quality of public space, making the surroundings more fluid for vehicular traffic and more pleasant for pedestrians.

An Echo of Distant Past

This monument serves as a window into the depths of the history of the Leceia region. Although its name alludes to the Neolithic period, its conception pays homage to the communities that inhabited these lands about five thousand years ago, during a period corresponding to the Chalcolithic (Copper Age).

The design of the structure was conceived to evoke the presence and legacy of prehistoric man, particularly his connections with the nearby Castro de Leceia, an important archaeological site in the area. It is an invitation to reflect on human origins and evolution in the Oeiras territory.

Urban Art and Ancestral Memory

More than just a traffic structure, the roundabout and monument are considered an object of art that contributes to the visual quality of Leceia's public space. The central sculptural piece functions as a symbolic memorial.

The project highlights fundamental materials used by ancient civilizations, such as clay and copper, elements that were central to the life and activities of the communities that populated the region millennia ago. Thus, the monument not only beautifies the area but also perpetuates the memory of a rich cultural and technological heritage.

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