Mamoa of Monte Calvo

Set on the scenic Monte Calvo hilltop, the Mamoa of Monte Calvo is a Bronze Age burial site dating back over 3,000 years. Though modest in size – 12 meters in diameter and about half a meter high – this megalithic monument holds deep historical and cultural significance.

Excavations revealed a low earthen and stone mound, bordered by a small stone wall. At its heart lies a central pit grave, once sealed with a granite slab, believed to have held the remains or ashes of an individual from the local community.

One of the most intriguing discoveries was a Pedra Parideira (birthing stone) nodule, deliberately placed at the base of the monument. The meaning behind this symbolic act remains a mystery to this day. This unique artifact is now on display at the Casa das Pedras Parideiras Interpretative Center, as part of the Iter Hominis route.

A visit to the Mamoa of Monte Calvo offers a quiet but powerful connection to the rituals and beliefs of ancient mountain communities.