Pedrário Hillfort

Category: Archaeology > Hillfort

District: Vila Real > Montalegre > Pedrário > Sarraquinhos

Location

The Castro do Pedrário is located in the village of Pedrário, part of the Sarraquinhos area, in the municipality of Montalegre. Built on a prominent natural platform, this site enjoys an elevated and isolated position, characteristic of many ancient settlements. From here, one's gaze extends over a vast northern landscape, reaching the foothills of Larouco, and follows the meandering Assureira River, which flows in the valley below, from Solveira to Vilar de Perdizes. Its altitude, close to one thousand meters, offers a wide perspective over the surrounding rural area.

An Iron Age Settlement

The Castro do Pedrário is an important testament to human occupation in the region since Protohistory, particularly during the Iron Age. This site was a fortified settlement, designed to take advantage of its strategic position in terms of defense and territorial control. It is recognized for its historical and archaeological value, classified as a Property of Public Interest.

The Robust Defenses

Characteristic of Castro do Pedrário is its complex defensive system, which included two lines of walls. These robust structures, built with dry-laid granite ashlar blocks and irregular masonry, formed a double facing filled internally with smaller stones. Some of these walls reached considerable thicknesses, reinforcing the security of the settlement. There are also remains of ancient entrances and, within the interior space delimited by the walls, evidence of circular-plan constructions can be observed, typical of this type of protohistoric settlement.

Traces of Ancient Life

Archaeological investigations carried out at Castro do Pedrário have allowed for the identification of various elements that tell a little about the daily life of its ancient inhabitants. Among the findings are fragments of pottery, both handmade and wheel-thrown, dating from the Iron Age. Traces of bronze and iron slag were also collected, suggesting the practice of metallurgical activities at the site. These fragments, although modest, offer valuable clues about the technology and lifestyle of this pre-Roman community in Montalegre.

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