Category: Archaeology > Fortified Settlement
District: Setúbal > Alcácer do Sal > Torrão > Monte da Tumba
Monte da Tumba is located in the parish of Torrão, in the municipality of Alcácer do Sal, district of Setúbal, about 6 km from the village of Torrão. It is 1.1 km east of the Xarrama River, a tributary of the Sado River.
This fortified settlement dates back to the period between 2500 BC and 2000 BC, that is, the end of the Neolithic and the Chalcolithic (Copper Age). It was discovered in the 1980s during the construction of a house on top of the hill. Since 2013, it has been classified as a Site of Public Interest, with a special protection zone.
Monte da Tumba was built in a strategic location, on top of a natural elevation with good defensive conditions. The settlement was surrounded by two lines of walls, with semicircular bastions and towers, including a central tower. This is a notable example of a fortified settlement south of the Tagus River.
The dwellings in the settlement had a circular stone base, and although no traces of the upper part of the houses have been found, it is believed that they were made of adobe.
Monte da Tumba offers valuable information about the way of life and the natural environment of the time, including details about fauna, flora, and economic practices, such as the use of charcoal.
To visit Monte da Tumba, simply follow the road from Torrão and walk about 6 km to the site. The site is open to the public, and guided tours can be scheduled in advance through the Torrão Ethnographic Museum or the Archeology sector of the Alcácer do Sal City Council.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 38.283892806585214,-8.231437084242037
Coordinates DMS: 38°17'2.0"N 08°13'53.2"W
Weather Torrão
On-duty Pharmacy Torrão
