San Gens Necropolis
The necropolis of San Gens is located south of Nisa on the Serra Biera in eastern Portugal . It consists of about 20 rock tombs, which are arranged around the "Pedra do Sino" ( German "bell stone" ), the natural center of the landscape. The graves of the necropolis were cut into the rock outcrop between the 1st and 7th centuries AD . Prehistoric tombs are a common sight in Portugal, where they are often found alongside Neolithic megalithic sites about 4,000 years old , but San Gens is one of the best examples in the north. The associated settlement may have existed on the nearby Mondego River .
There is a preference for a general orientation of the complexes on the “Pedra do Sino”, but several graves are oriented in a different direction. One grave was meant for a child. The surrounding rocks are carved. There are also some good examples of wedge holes for splitting the granite . The attempts at splitting granite can also be seen at Neolithic sites in Portugal.
The same granite depressions that can be found at the bottom of the “Pedra do Sino” can also be seen at the Anta of San Gens (a dolmen ). They also mark the rocks at the nearby Anta do Tapadão . It is possible that they indicate the importance of the place in some way.
See also
literature
- Francis DK Ching, Mark Jarzombek, Vikramaditya Prakash: A Global History of Architecture - Rock-Cut Tombs.
- Jürgen E. Walkowitz: The megalithic syndrome. European cult sites of the Stone Age (= contributions to the prehistory and early history of Central Europe. Vol. 36). Beier & Beran, Langenweißbach 2003, ISBN 3-930036-70-3 .
Web links
Coordinates: 40 ° 39 '17.3 " N , 7 ° 23' 48.5" W.