Prehistoric village discovered in Porto

Found in Asprela, it may be the oldest in the city. Experts date the site found to the Neolithic.

Archaeological surveys carried out in Asprela, in Porto, may have discovered the oldest occupation site in the city, dating back to prehistoric times. “Possibly from the Neolithic [10 mil anos a.c.]”, says Nuno Gomes, responsible for Civitas Arqueologia, in charge of the surveys.

“It could be a camp. Fragments of tools were found, like blades and scrapers, among others”, he says, noting that the materials were collected and kept by the company Civitas. The content of the discovery was reported to the Porto Chamber and the Regional Directorate of Culture.

“So far, in Porto, the oldest archaeological site found was the Povoado do Lagarteiro, from the Chalcolithic [5000 anos a.c.]. This last finding may supersede that date”, he stresses. The Povoado do Lagarteiro was detected in 2019, during the expansion of the green spaces of the Parque Oriental.

Does not prevent construction

In Asprela, an area with many developments, partly to accommodate students, the Civitas surveys were commissioned by a construction company, which is investing in the site.

The archaeological work will continue with another company, which will handle the excavations, but Nuno Gomes anticipates that the results will not prevent the building from being built. Apart from the collections of historical interest that are in storage, everything else is “perishable”, he explains. As usual in this type of case, an “archaeologist will monitor” the evolution of the building works.

Quartz

The fragments are coated with quartz, an abundant mineral used since antiquity.

Tapirs

As Nuno Gomes observes, near Asprela, in the Antas area, there will be traces of other times. The very name “Antas” refers to “funerary monuments”.