Orca of Pramelas

Category: Civil Architecture > Museum

District: Viseu > Nelas > Canas de Senhorim > Póvoa de Santo António

Location

The Orca das Pramelas is located in Póvoa de Santo António, an area that is part of the locality of Canas de Senhorim, in the municipality of Nelas. It is situated in an environment that invites observation of the surrounding landscape, providing visitors with a tranquil experience.

The Megalithic Architecture

This prehistoric monument is a dolmen, characterized by a polygonal main chamber, which exhibits a trapezoidal plan, and is composed of nine vertical stones, known as orthostats. An entrance corridor, about two meters long, provides access to the chamber. The interior floor of the chamber was once paved with granite slabs, on which a thin layer of sand was found. The corridor, in turn, featured a paving made of fine gravel.

Traces of Other Times

The Orca das Pramelas was only discovered in 1985 by Horácio Manuel da Silva Peixoto. Archaeological excavations inside revealed the presence of Roman remains. This discovery suggests that the monument, originally built in prehistoric times, may have been reused by the Roman population, possibly as a burial site, around the 4th century. This superposition of eras gives the site a particularly interesting historical dimension.

Recognition and Archaeological Value

Recognized for its importance, the Orca das Pramelas is classified as a Property of Public Interest. This classification highlights its value within the cultural and archaeological heritage of the region. The archaeological finds collected at this site, which help tell the history of the communities that lived and interacted here, are currently exhibited to the public in a museum room located in Canas de Senhorim.

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