Category: Archaeology > Fortified Settlement
District: Vila Real > Mondim de Basto > Campos > Seixos Brancos
The Castro de Crastoeiro is located on a small elevation in the Seixos Brancos area, in the locality of Campos, within the municipality of Mondim de Basto. Situated at an altitude of 453 meters, this site is integrated into the southwestern slope of Monte Farinha, offering a strategic view over the valley of the Campos stream, which flows into the Tâmega River. The surrounding landscape is marked by a vast granitic area, contributing to the uniqueness of the scenery.
The history of Crastoeiro dates back to a very distant past, perhaps to the 3rd millennium BC. From this initial period, notable granite outcrops with abstract engravings, created using pecking and abrasion techniques, still survive. The presence of ceramic fragments, dated to the Chalcolithic and Bronze Age, suggests that this site could have been a frequent point of visitation, possibly serving as a sanctuary for the region's prehistoric communities.
From the 4th century BC, the Castro de Crastoeiro transformed into a permanently inhabited settlement. Initially, constructions were simpler, with huts erected from perishable materials, whose traces, such as wall clay and gravel floors, are still visible. Pits dug into the ground were also discovered, possibly used for storing cereals. Over time, the settlement evolved, with an imposing stone wall being erected, and dwellings began to be built with more durable stone solutions, although the primitive construction model remained in some places. The residential structures, of circular, quadrangular, and rectangular shapes, adapted to the topography of the hill, protected by a complex defensive system.
This settlement was abandoned around the mid-1st century AD, during the period of Romanization, with a possible, albeit brief, reoccupation in the Middle Ages. Currently, the Castro de Crastoeiro is recognized as an important testament to the forms of territorial occupation and proto-historic cultures in Portugal. Its state of conservation and the richness of its vestiges bestow upon it high historical and scientific value, being classified as a Site of Public Interest, a recognition of its importance and the need to preserve this millennial legacy.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 41.4146516,-7.9295969
Coordinates DMS: 41°24'52.7"N 07°55'46.5"W
Weather Campos
On-duty Pharmacy Campos
