The Castro of Monte Valinhas, alternately the ''Castro of São João de Valinhas'', is an archaeological site in Portugal, in the civil parish of Santa Eulália, in the municipality of Arouca, notable for the discovery of important traces of human remains from the last 2000 years.

History

Its situation, overlooking the open-spaces in the valley, was used by successive communities throughout the centuries (since the

Neolithic The Neolithic period, or New Stone Age, is an Old World archaeological period and the final division of the Stone Age. It saw the Neolithic Revolution, a wide-ranging set of developments that appear to have arisen independently in several p ...

until the

Middle Ages In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire ...

) for protection and defence. Although some artifacts may have indicated a presence since the

Bronze Age The Bronze Age is a historic period, lasting approximately from 3300 BC to 1200 BC, characterized by the use of bronze, the presence of writing in some areas, and other early features of urban civilization. The Bronze Age is the second prin ...

, the reality is that there has not been any correspondent confirmation beyond the

Iron Age The Iron Age is the final epoch of the three-age division of the prehistory and protohistory of humanity. It was preceded by the Stone Age ( Paleolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic) and the Bronze Age ( Chalcolithic). The concept has been mostl ...

. It was in this period that a defensive structure ( castro) was established over Monte Valinhas, as well as along the southern and southeastern flanks, taking advantage of the granite rocks that exist there. Later, during the Roman period, the area was reoccupied, possibly after the 1st century: artifacts that include fragments of ceramics and glass, lithics and metals were discovered during archaeological investigations. Its strategic location attracted early settlers, but more important, medieval settlement during the

Reconquista The ' (Spanish, Portuguese and Galician for "reconquest") is a historiographical construction describing the 781-year period in the history of the Iberian Peninsula between the Umayyad conquest of Hispania in 711 and the fall of the Nasrid ...

era, who utilized the hilltop and built a castle that lasted until the late 12th century or early 13th century, when it was abandoned. Archaeological study of the area began in at the end of the 1980s, by a team of investigators coordinated by António Manuel Silva, whom identified the walled compound. These studies also concluded the investigations into the circular castro structure, discovering a fireplace in one of the human residences.Centro de Arqueologia de Arouca (2002), p.8 The site remains unclassified, and under study since 1996.

Architecture

The Castro of Monte Valinhas was erected on the hilltop of the same name (''Monte Valinhas'') within the parish of Santa Eulália, in a privileged strategic space over the valley of Arouca.

References

;Notes ;Sources * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Sao Joao De Valinhas Monte Valinhas Former populated places in Portugal Castro Monte Valinhas Buildings and structures in Arouca, Portugal