Zambujal hillfort

Category: Archaeology > Hillfort

District: Lisboa > Torres Vedras > Torres Vedras > Casais da Torre

Location

The Castro do Zambujal is located about three kilometers from the city of Torres Vedras, in the Casais da Torre area. It is situated on a rocky spur, on the right bank of the Ribeira de Pedrulhos, which is a tributary of the Sizandro River. Its position gently rises above the surrounding landscape, in a semi-rural area that integrates the flanks of the Serra do Varatojo. This location allowed, at the time of its occupation, privileged access to the then estuary of the Sizandro, facilitating connection to the sea.

A Millennial Legacy

Dating from the early third millennium BC, Castro do Zambujal is one of the most significant fortified settlements of the Copper Age in the Lisbon Peninsula. Its discovery, in 1932, by archaeologist Leonel Trindade, revealed a site that was occupied for over a millennium, until around 1700 BC. The relevance of this site is such that it was classified as a National Monument in 1946, standing out as one of the best-preserved and studied examples of the Chalcolithic period in the Iberian Peninsula.

Defensive Architecture

The structure of Castro do Zambujal is distinguished by its architectural complexity, reflecting the defense needs and social evolution of the era. The settlement was initially protected by a fortified central enclosure, approximately 50 meters in diameter, reinforced by massive circular and semi-circular towers. Throughout the different phases of occupation, this fortress was expanded and strengthened. Imposing lines of walls and a barbican were added, indicating an increasingly elaborate defensive system. It is still possible to observe some of the robust walls and towers, some several meters high, which bear witness to the engineering and constructive effort of its ancient inhabitants.

Ancient Society and Trade

Zambujal was not just a fortress; it was a vibrant center of activity. Its strategic location, with access to fluvial and maritime navigation via the Sizandro River, made it a crucial point for ore trade. It is believed to have been the most important center for ore smelting and trade in Portuguese Estremadura in its time. Life in the castro suggests a degree of social stratification, with the central enclosure possibly reserved for inhabitants of higher status and for safeguarding valuable products, such as those resulting from metallurgy. The majority of the population was dedicated to agriculture and raising livestock in the surrounding lands, while accumulated wealth manifested itself in ornaments and the presence of Bell Beaker pottery, a type of pottery that became a cultural hallmark of the era and whose remnants found here are among the oldest in Europe.

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