Category: Civil Architecture > Museum
District: Viseu > Carregal do Sal > Oliveira do Conde > Azenha
The Orca do Santo is located in the Azenha area, a zone belonging to the locality of Oliveira do Conde, in the municipality of Carregal do Sal. The site is situated in a peaceful rural environment, characteristic of the region, where millenary history harmonizes with the natural landscape, inviting a reflective visit about the past.
This site, where an imposing dolmen once stood, is a testament to the presence of prehistoric communities that inhabited the region. Known as Orca do Santo, and at other times also referred to as Moorish Mine or Disordered House, this megalithic structure dates back to the Neolithic period. Although its main elements are now absent, archaeological studies have allowed its original configuration to be uncovered, revealing a sub-rectangular chamber and a vestibule-type corridor, elements that conferred its uniqueness compared to other monuments in the area.
The history of Orca do Santo is marked by challenges. Throughout the 20th century, the monument suffered severe damage, especially due to clandestine excavations in the 1940s, which resulted in the removal of its uprights and capstones. Given this degradation, the site was subject to important archaeological interventions in 1992 and 1993. These works were crucial for safeguarding knowledge about the dolmen, allowing researchers to record and study what remained, including the elliptical shape of the tumulus that once covered it. A visit to this site offers an opportunity to understand the complexities of archaeological heritage preservation and the importance of research efforts to keep alive the memory of such ancient places.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 40.450341,-7.9340451
Coordinates DMS: 40°27'1.2"N 07°56'2.6"W
Weather Oliveira do Conde
On-duty Pharmacy Oliveira do Conde
