Department of Anthropology (PA, USA)

The Calcolithic Site of Pombal (Monforte): A possible recovery of old and new data.
The present study was conducted for my Master’s Thesis in Prehistory and Archaeology and presented to the Faculty of Letters at the University of Lisbon. This resulted, naturally,
from the project entitled “The Prehistoric Communities of the 4th and 3rd Millennium in the Region of Monforte “ (COMONPH), co-directed with Carla Lopes, in the North Alentejo.
The neo-chalcolithic spoila was exhumed from the site of Pombal by Manuel Heleno in the 1950s and are currently held in the deposit at the National Museum of Archaeology.
To these, the results of recent research were added and a joint study, to search for its sociocultural context and chronology, was conducted. The virtual non-existence of information pertaining to the habitats of the Neolithic/Chalcolthic period in the North Alentejo turned
out to be extremely useful in approach, trying to verify the correct extrapolation discussed by several authors for this area, usually based on data from the Central Alentejo or other bordering areas.
During the course of this study, it was necessary to conduct a critique that was relevant to the spoila from the National Museum of Archaeology in order to ascertain the verification
of its provenience. This research was complimented and strengthened by having access to Manuel Heleno’s notes and to the explanations provided by some of the rural workers of
Vaiamonte who participated in the excavations conducted at Pombal. Even so, if the provenience of the spoila was relatively well known, and assign to the proper place, the excavation register didn’t record any vertical or horizontal measurements. Because of this, it is impossible to place any of the archaeological materials in their true context. In spite of this absence of “real” contexts, the search for parallels at better-known sites (usually in the bordering areas) allowed for the establishment of a general chronological record of the material culture.
The analysis of the material culture followed that of many other authors’ proposals, although this study has tried to develop some aspects in particular, namely, the function of
the loom elements or the close relationship between groundstone tools and percussors.
Furthermore, the monographic study that took place in this area also revealed the presence of several other occupation sites in the area, more or less correlated. Therefore, using the compiled archaeological data of old excavations and new field surveys, a sufficient and reasonable evaluation of this site may be achieved.
Thus, the site of Pombal was a settlement occupied during the end of the 4th millennium and into the following centuries of the 3rd. The cultural material indicated the intense
use of groundstone tools and percussors, probably associated with the clearing of fields for agricultural and pastoral activities. Grindstone elements probably reflect the consumption of cereals — the presence of plates and goblets with thickened lips did not come as a surprise, either. The high number of loom elements reveals the practice of weaving — evidence which suggested the use of technical solutions that were different from those in other
areas. But, simultaneously, the people of this settlement maintained inter-regional contacts.
The evidence of various raw materials, ceramic typologies and thematic decorations found at this site could indicate this.
Finally, this study registers several elements that would suggest the materialization of a secondary products revolution during the 3rd millennium.

"Based on the dispersion of raw materials and types of artifacts, mobility of people, groups or even communities have been assumed for the 4th and 3rd millennia BCE in the South-Central of Portugal.
Using the osteological collections from three Late Neolithic tombs, namely the dolmens of Estria and Carcavelos, in the region of Lisbon (Estremadura), and the tholos tomb 1 at Perdigões, in Alentejo, a first attempt was conducted to verify if those adult individuals of both sexes tested were born and raised outside the regions where they possibly died and were buried. Moreover, the bedrock of those two regions presents different characteristics, making it possible to ascertain with more precision possible foreigners. The Estremadura is mainly constituted of limestone, marl and sandstone origin and the Alentejo is made of schist and granite.
Taking into consideration the commingled condition of those osteological collections, a specific methodology was established to allow a more representative data of non-repetitive individuals.
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The recovery of a shaped spatula limestone idol-plaque, from the plowed field in area of the Late Neolithic settlement of Pombal (Monforte, Portugal), originated this note. Indeed, this finding is the only known of its kind until today in the region of Alentejo. This presence strengthens the contacts already known between the regions of Alentejo and Badajoz, namely concerning the magical-religious iconography coming from the later.

This work conducts a critique and a revision of the available radiocarbon dating for the settlements of the 4th and 3rd millennia BCE within the modern day southern region of portuguese territory. Following the revision of that data, an evaluation about settlement dynamics within the region, during this time period, is proposed.

"The phenomenon of funerary megalithism, which occurred in the Iberian Peninsula between the 4th and 3rd millennia B.C.E., corresponding to the period between the Middle Neolithic and the Chalcolithic, is generally understood as being “a complex set of magical and religious rules that are related to death and not only strictly as a type of funerary architecture” (Gonçalves, 1995: 27). In this sense, in the region of Lisbon we can find different types of structures (natural caves and rock cut caves, dolmens and tholoi) used to bury the dead where these magical rituals were performed.
One explanation for this variety has to do with the geological composition. Where soft spots existed, limestone and sandstone bedrock could be easily hewn, with the then available technology, into (rock cut) caves that provided ample space for burials. Naturally occurring caves were exploited, as well, and outcrops provided the necessary slabs for building the burial structures."

""The exchange of raw materials and/or artifacts over distances of 100–200 km between Late Neolithic human groups from the regions of Lisbon and the Alto Alentejo has been noted since archaeologists began carrying out research on this time period. The Late Neolithic — around 3500-2500 bc (Soares 1999; Soares and Cabral 1993) — is associated with the consolidation of the Neolithic Revolution, namely with the intensification of secondary agricultural and pastoral products (Gonçalves 2000–2001; Sherratt 1983, 1995) and the construction of elaborate funerary structures and walled settlements.
During this time it is believed that people circulated not only in their own regions but also into distant areas, motivated by necessity, obligation, or curiosity, procuring products and looking for other human groups.""

"The results of the archaeological excavation at the dolmen of Vidigueira are presented here. Within the Megalithism of the region of Redondo an attempt is conducted to put it into context, aiming to contribute with more data for a better knowledge of this funerary
phenomenon that occurred during the 4th and 3rd millennia BCE."

The centennial of Georg and Vera Leisner marriage is commemorated in this article in light of the fact that they contributed greatly to the knowledge of Iberian Peninsula Megaliths. As well, the lost opportunity for Georg Leisner, and Portugal, of his appointment to become a professor at the University of Coimbra is highlighted.