Category: Archaeology > Settlement
District: Viseu > Vouzela > Vouzela e Paços de Vilharigues > Paços de Vilharigues
The Castro in Paços de Vilharigues is located in the Union of Parishes of Vouzela and Paços de Vilharigues, in the municipality of Vouzela. It stands on a slope of the Serra do Caramulo, at an altitude that offers an interesting perspective on the surrounding landscape. Its strategic location, at approximately 430 meters of altitude, allowed, in ancient times, visual dominance over the surrounding territory.
This site marks the presence of an ancient proto-historic settlement, a community that developed in a distant era. Known as a castro, these sites were fortified settlements, typical of the Iron Age in the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula. The Castro in Paços de Vilharigues offers a glimpse into the social organization and daily life of our ancestors, revealing one of the earliest forms of human agglomeration in the region.
Although time has transformed the landscape, the Castro in Paços de Vilharigues still reveals its considerable original size. It was a robust settlement, protected by a set of three to five walls, built with remarkable care. Inside, there were residential areas where circular and quadrangular houses stood, indicating a planned organization of space. Interestingly, to the southeast, there is a valley that suggests it was artificially shaped, likely serving as an additional defensive element for its ancient inhabitants.
The history of this castro is not limited to proto-history alone. Archaeological findings, such as ceramic fragments found on the site, indicate that the settlement continued to be inhabited even during the Roman presence, showing a continuity of occupation over the centuries. Its elevated and dominant position over the ancient Roman road that led towards Vouzela underscores its strategic importance in controlling and communicating with the region. It is a point of interest for those seeking to understand the deeper roots of human occupation in this part of Portugal.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 40.7146874,-8.129584
Coordinates DMS: 40°42'52.9"N 08°07'46.5"W
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