Did you know that beneath your feet lies a story stretching back millennia? We are standing at Castro da Senhora da Saúde. It is also known as Monte Murado. This site whispers tales of ancient peoples and Roman conquests.
Let’s journey back to the Iron Age. Imagine this hill bustling with life. The Castro da Senhora da Saúde was first inhabited then. People built homes and defenses. They lived and thrived here.
The Castro da Senhora da Saúde continued to be inhabited through the Roman period. This shows its strategic importance. The Romans valued this location. They recognized its potential.
The name Pedroso has origins connected to this very site. It comes from Castro Petrosus. This dates back to 7 AD. The area was inhabited by the Turduli Veteres. A road connected Olissipo that is now Lisbon to Bracara Augusta which we know today as Braga. This road passed by here.
In 1982 archaeologists unearthed treasures nearby. They discovered bronze plaques called Tesserae Hospitales. These date to 7 and 9 AD. These plaques are considered major finds. They provide insight into the Iberian Peninsula’s past.
These two bronze plaques reveal hospitality pacts. Decimus Iulius Cilo was from the Galeria tribe. He made agreements with indigenous people. These people were the Turduli Veteres.
Excavations in 1983 pinpointed where the plaques were found. It was the cella of Decimus Iulius Cilo’s Roman house. The plaques were displayed on a wall. They were near a fireplace.
Vestiges of walls remain at the Castro da Senhora da Saúde. These once enclosed dwellings. Multiple lines of walls defended the settlement. Their perimeter extended over 3 kilometers.
You can still see some streets within the Castro da Senhora da Saúde. One street even has paving stones. Artifacts from this site are now in a collection. It is the Marciano Azuaga collection. You can find it at the Casa de Cultura de Vila Nova de Gaia. It is located in the Solar dos Condes Resende.
In 1992 a large area was designated. It became a site of public interest. This designation acknowledges the site’s importance.
Pedroso is part of Portugal’s main archaeological route. The plaques are the oldest written record of Pedroso. They prove its history extends far before Portugal’s founding.
The Castro da Senhora da Saúde is a place of immense historical value. It connects us to the distant past. Consider the lives of those who lived here as you explore. Their stories are etched into this landscape. The Castro da Senhora da Saúde stands as a reminder of our shared heritage. It connects us to those who came before.