Ideotechnical representations in the megalithism of Mondego's platform: the case of Orca da Lapa do Lobo, Nelas

• Main Authors: Senna-Martinez, João Carlos, Carvalho, Margarida M.
• Format: Book Part
• Language: English
• Published: Fundação Lapa do Lobo / UNIARQ - Faculdade de Letras da Universidade de Lisboa / CEAACP - Universidade do Algarve 2019
• Subjects: Megalithism; Mondego platform; Ideotechnical representations; Megalitismo; Plataforma do Mondego; Representações ideotécnicas; Cariz; Menhir; Orca
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10451/36452

The four excavation campaigns (2015-2018) carried out in the “ Orca da Lapa do Lobo” (County of Nelas, District of Viseu) revealed a situation, unique in the regional context in which it operates, of a tumular structure functioning, in fact, as an “ancestors sanctuary”. The symbolic practices associated with the various regional groups of Iberian Peninsula Megalithism have been receiving increasing attention, in particular in what regards the ideotechnical representations associated with it, both structurally and within the scope of the mobile elements that make up the respective list of offerings. In the second case we have the elements identified as “stelae” or “idols”, usually of anthropomorphic interpretation. From the site under study, the set of one hundred, thirty four mobile ideotechnical representations and a “fixed” one, the study of which is presented here – 98 stelae, 4 stele-monoliths, 31 “idol-like pebbles” and one ceramic representation in the first group and a stela-menhir in the second - constitutes the largest group of ideotechnique artefacts so far recovered in Iberia from a single megalithic monument. We also discuss the possible significance of these items within the framework of the symbolic practices known and associated with the Neolithic of the Mondego Platform. As quatro campanhas de escavações (2015-2018) efectuadas na “Orca da Lapa do Lobo” (Concelho de Nelas, Distrito de Viseu) revelaram uma situação, única no âmbito regional em que se insere, de uma estrutura tumular funcionando, de facto, como um “santuário de antepassados”. As práticas simbólicas associadas aos diversos grupos regionais do megalitismo da Península Ibérica têm vindo a merecer crescente atenção, em particular no que toca às representações de cariz ideotécnico a ele associadas, quer estruturalmente, quer no âmbito dos elementos móveis que integram o respectivo espólio associado. No segundo caso se inserem elementos identificados como “estelas” ou “ídolos”, normalmente de interpretação antropomórfica. No caso em ...