Orca dos Juncais Dolmen

Category: Civil Architecture > Museum

District: Viseu > Vila Nova de Paiva > Queiriga

Location

The Dolmen of Orca dos Juncais, also known as "Pedra da Orca" (Whale Stone), stands in a flatter terrain area, locally known as Juncais. This prehistoric monument is located in the parish of Queiriga, in the municipality of Vila Nova de Paiva. Its proximity to the Rebentão stream, which runs to the east, gives the surrounding area a tranquil and natural atmosphere, inviting a moment of contemplation in the rural landscape.

A Window to the Neolithic

This imposing dolmen is a remarkable testament to the communities that inhabited this region thousands of years ago. It served as a collective burial site for agro-pastoral populations, with its use dating from the late sixth millennium to the early fifth millennium BC. Its antiquity and purpose offer a fascinating perspective on the funeral rituals and social organization of peoples who lived long before our era.

The Imposing Megalithic Construction

Classified as a National Monument, the Dolmen of Orca dos Juncais stands out for its architectural grandeur. The monument consists of an octagonal funerary chamber, about three meters wide and long, reaching a maximum height of 2.40 meters. Connected to this chamber is a long corridor approximately 7.40 meters long, 2.35 meters wide, and a maximum height of 2.5 meters, delimited by eight orthostats on each side. The entire structure is surrounded by an oval-shaped earth mound, measuring about thirty by twenty meters, whose main axis is oriented from east to west.

Secrets Revealed

Archaeological investigations conducted at this site have uncovered vestiges that enrich the understanding of its history. It was precisely in the dolmen's corridor that a stone fragment with paintings, depicting human figures, the so-called anthropomorphs, was identified. This invaluable piece is now on display at the National Archaeology Museum, offering a glimpse into prehistoric art. In addition to the paintings, the collected artifacts include quartz and flint arrowheads, as well as ceramic fragments, crucial elements for dating and studying the material culture of these ancient communities.

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