Quinta da Goucha Archaeological Station

Category: Nature > Reserva natural

District: Santarém > Alpiarça > Alpiarça

Location

Situated in the peaceful municipality of Alpiarça, the archaeological site of Quinta da Goucha, also known as Cabeço da Bruxa, rises on a modest sandy elevation. This hill, about six meters high, gently stands out in the alluvial plain landscape, characteristic of the Ribatejo region.

The surrounding area is marked by rural beauty, where vineyards stretch out, punctuated by cork oaks and olive trees, typical elements of the local agricultural scenery. The site harmoniously integrates into the Ribatejo landscape, and the hill can be seen from National Road 118, between Alpiarça and Gouxaria.

A Window into Prehistory

This site is a fascinating testimony to very ancient human occupation. Excavations revealed that the hill was inhabited or used since the Chalcolithic period, an era of transition between the Stone Age and the Bronze Age, and continued to have human presence during the Bronze Age. Later, vestiges also indicate an occupation in the Roman Period, showing the continuous relevance of this point over millennia.

Its archaeological importance lies in having functioned as a proto-urban cluster, a precursor to the more organized communities that would emerge. Although the presence in the Middle Bronze Age translates more into indications of individual burials than of a continuous settlement, the discovery of funerary urns at the site, with associated grave goods, suggests a particular connection to the so-called Alpiarça Culture.

The Legacy of Discoveries

Archaeological work on this sandy hill brought to light a diverse set of artifacts, which help to depict the daily life and beliefs of the communities that lived here. Among the most notable finds are horn idols, enigmatic symbols of that era, and various types of pottery that tell stories of use and function.

Bell Beaker vessels, distinctive of the Bronze Age culture, were discovered, as well as carinated vessels, more characteristic of the Late Bronze Age, and fragments of Middle Bronze Age funerary vessels. Furthermore, the presence of Roman pottery and a Hispano-Carthaginian copper coin underscores the long and varied history of cultural interactions at the site, enriching the historical panorama of the region.

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