Category: Archaeology > Cave
District: Santarém > Ferreira do Zêzere > Avecasta
The Avecasta Cave is located in Areias, in the municipality of Ferreira do Zêzere, district of Santarém. Access is via a dirt road next to the village chapel.
This place was used by various human communities over thousands of years, from the Paleolithic to the Medieval period. Notable occupations include the Neolithic, Copper Age (Chalcolithic), Bronze Age, Iron Age, and Roman period.
Bone and flint tools, metallurgical slag, and ashes were found. These remains help to understand the techniques and daily lives of the communities that lived there.
The cave was a copper smelting center in the Chalcolithic and, later, of iron in the Roman period, demonstrating the technical knowledge of these populations.
The quality of the clays and the microclimate of the cave allowed the preservation of housing structures such as floors, walls, and fireplaces, as well as organic remains (bones, seeds, charcoals, and pollen grains).
This site is unique in the way it preserves the history of the communities that lived there. The sedimentary layers accumulated over more than 100,000 years document human occupation and the evolution of the local environment.
Since the 1980s, excavations have been carried out that have revealed overlapping villages and a rich collection of artifacts. However, only a small part of the site has been studied so far.
The site is classified as a SIP (Site of Public Interest), guaranteeing its protection and recognition of its value as part of Portugal's cultural heritage.
The Avecasta Cave offers a window into Portugal's remote past, standing out as one of the most important archaeological sites in the country. Your visit provides a unique educational and cultural experience.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 39.74584342678416,-8.403188750030058
Coordinates DMS: 39°44'45.0"N 08°24'11.5"W
Weather Avecasta
On-duty Pharmacy Avecasta
