Department of Sciences and Techniques of Heritage Studies

This text discusses the process of construction-use-closure of decorated dolmens in the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula. The “decoration” is perceived as one of the aspects of collective social negotiation underlying the construction of the monument. In fact, the construction and decoration reflect the maintenance, recreation and alteration of specific memories, identities and ideologies in the Neolithic communities of the region. Each monument contains a specific inner scenography that is anchored in the scenographic, mythographic and ideological traditions of the wider region

"This is the thesis of the author. Includes the  Monographic text  of Pala-Mirandela rock shelter, as well as the summary of the prehistory of the province of Trás-os-Montes the Alto Douro, with highlight to the prehistoric human occupation since regional  Neolithic human ocupation until the end of the CHALCOLITHIC period ( VI-beginning of second Millennium BC ).
Note: this book is out of print.The 2 volumes are in the same pdf document

Reflexão relativa a arte dos dólmenes do Noroeste da Peninsula Ibérica, com realce para as arquitecturas megalíticas e organizações decorativas.Destaque para o contributo de V O Jorge no estudo das arquitecturas megalíticas.
Reflection on the art of the Northwest Iberian Peninsula dolmens, with highlight to the megalithic architectures and decorative organizations.Highlighting the contribution of Vitor O Jorge in the study of megalithic architectures.

The purpose of this paper is the study of a group of granite made anthropomorphic proto
sculptural forms, identified at the archaeological sites of Salgueiros and Puio, during an archaeologicalsurvey at Picote, Miranda do Douro (Trás-os-Montes, Portugal). The archaeological
site of Salgueiros evokes an architectonically complex structure, probably a precinct type.
Due to their close proximity the archaeological sites of Salgueiros and Puio may be interpreted
(in the regional pre-historic context, 4º and 3º mil. AC) as being part of the same symbolic landscape, a strategically situated area that topographically dominates a narrow curve of the
Douro river.
It was these characteristics that drove us to analise the stelae precinct of Cabeço da Mina (Vila
Flor), which also dominates an enlarged valley, the valley of Vilariça.
Likewise, this landscape (the broad Vilariça valley) appears marked not just by the precinct
itself, but also by two standing stelae located at the southern entrance of the same valley. In
both areas — Picote, Douro valley, and Vilariça valley/base level of Sabor river — the formal
and iconographic analisis of the stelae suggests that we may be facing communal narratives
with a genealogical character, or some other that may allow multiple readings. Given the scale
of the area, we belive they would embody discourses that would make each of these precincts
“a place” of a relatively singular meaning. However, given the context of the possible social
practices that may have occurred there, these “places”/precincts would have (or would necessarilyevoke) narratives relating to the identitary character of communal relations that would vigorate among the groups that habitated this region during Pre-History.

This text develops the interpretation of painted rock art in the rock shelters of Passos Sta Comba Mountain (northeast of Portugal), in relation with other traces of prehistoric occupation in this region (rock shelters, megalithic constructions such and megalithic dolmens, settlements)

This text discusses the process of construction-use-closure of decorated dolmens in the northwest
of the Iberian Peninsula. The “decoration” is perceived as one of the aspects of collective social
negotiation underlying the construction of the monument. In fact, the construction and decoration
reflect the maintenance, recreation and alteration of specific memories, identities and ideologies
in the Neolithic communities of the region. Each monument contains a specific inner scenography
that is anchored in the scenographic, mythographic and ideological traditions of the wider region.

Results from excavation work carried out at Mamoa d’Alagoa (Trás-os-Montes, North-eastern Portugal) in
2000-2001, are presented here. This is a megalithic monument, with chamber and other access
structures - megalithic corridor, corridor opened directly in the clayey sediments, antechamber – in
connexion with a covering sub-circular mound. Special emphasis is given to the different phases of
construction / use / “closure” during the first half of the 4th millennium BC. The intentional and constant
use of fire is also pointed out. This may have a ritual significance.

Results from excavation work carried out at Mamoa do Castelo (Trás-os-Montes, North-eastern
Portugal) in 2000-2001, are presented here. This is a megalithic monument, with chamber and other access structures - corridor opened directly in the clayey sediments, antechamber – inconnexion with a covering sub-circular mound. Special emphasis is given to the different phases of construction / use / “closure” during the 4th millennium / first half of 3rd millennium BC. The
intentional and constant use of fire is also pointed out. This may have a ritual significance.
Attention is drawn to the engravings found on the inner orthostats.

This text presents a new interpretative hypothesis concerning
prehistoric (Neolithic-Chalcolithic) populations in Trás-os-Montes
(north-eastern Portugal). The longstanding relationship between
human communities and their territories during the 5th millennium BC (Early Neolithic) resulted in specific genealogies during the Middle-
Final Neolithic which were translated, in turn, into earth and stone
architecture, incorporated in the different landscapes. The concept of landscape is used here as a contextual whole. However, these social and sacred landscapes display striking physical transformations between the end of 4th - end of 3rd millennium BC (Chalcolithic). This may result from changes in the social relationships defining identity withinthe various regional groups.

This book had a very limited distribution, being impossible to find for sale. It was published in a collection of monographs at the time of the 2nd Congress of Peninsular Archaeology (Zamora, 1996). It makes available a summary of the prehistory of the northeast of Portugal, in 1996. Although engaged primarily to Holocene period, includes sites of Paleolithic chronology (pp. 18-11), with emphasis on: a) the River Tuela terrace in the Valley of Juncal (Mirandela); b) the horse of Mazouco (Freixo de Espada à Cinta); c) rock shelters engraved with linear incisions and other linear “figures” known as "Devil's claw", in Atenor (Miranda do Douro) and Vilarinho dos Galegos (Mogadouro), which have also possibly Paleolithic chronology. This has been corroborated in recent discoveries.