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{{Geobox|Building
{{Infobox Historic Site
<!-- *** Heading *** -->
| name = Cunha Baixa Dolmen
| native_name = Anta de Cunha Baixa
| name = Dolmen of Cunha Baixa
| native_name = Anta de Cunha Baixa
| native_language = Portuguese
| other_name = Casa da Orca
| image = 1-anta da cunha1.JPG
| category = [[Dolmen]]
| caption =
| native_category = Anta
| locmapin =
<!-- *** Image *** -->
| lat_degrees =
| image = 1-anta da cunha1.JPG
| lat_minutes =
| image_caption = Profile of the dolmen, showing main chamber (centre-left) and corridor (right)
| lat_seconds =
| image_size = 235
| lat_direction =
<!-- *** Names **** -->
| long_degrees =
| official_name = Anta de Cunha Baixa/Casa da Orca
| long_minutes =
| etymology = the [[freguesia|civil parish]] of [[Cunha Baixa]]
| long_seconds =
| etymology_type = Named for
| long_direction =
| nickname =
| location = [[Cunha Baixa]], [[Mangualde]], [[Portugal]]
<!-- *** Symbols *** -->
| area =
| flag =
| built =
| symbol =
| architect =
<!-- *** Country *** -->
| architecture = [[Megalithic]]
| country = {{flag|Portugal}}
| governing_body =
| state_type = Region
| designation1 =
| state = [[Centro Region]]
| designation1_offname = Monumento Nacional
| region_type = Sub-region
| designation1_date = June 16, 1910
| region = [[Dão-Lafões]]
| designation1_number =
| district = [[Viseu (district)|Viseu]]
| municipality = [[Mangualde Municipality|Mangualde]]
<!-- *** Locations *** -->
| location = Cunha Baixa
| elevation = 491
| prominence =
| lat_d = 40
| lat_m = 34
| lat_s = 2.23
| lat_NS = N
| long_d = 7
| long_m = 44
| long_s = 59.56
| long_EW = W
<!-- *** Dimensions *** -->
| length = 3
| length_orientation = Southwest-Northeast
| width = 10.2
| width_orientation = Northwest-Southeast
| height = 3.2
| depth =
| volume =
| area = 10.4
<!-- *** Features *** -->
| author_type = Architects
| author = <nowiki>unknown</nowiki>
| style = Megalithic
| material = Granite
<!-- *** History & management *** -->
| established = [[circa|c.]] [[1892]]
| established_type = Discovered
| established1 = 3000 A.D.
| established1_type = Earliest
| established2 = 2500 A.D.
| established2_type = Last
| date =
| date_type =
| owner = Portuguese Republic
<!-- *** Access *** -->
| public = Private
| visitation = Closed
| visitation_date =
| access =
<!-- *** UNESCO etc. *** -->
| whs_name =
| whs_year =
| whs_number =
| whs_region =
| whs_criteria =
| iucn_category =
<!-- *** Free fields *** -->
| free = [[IGESPAR|Instituto Gestão do Patrimonio Arquitectónico e Arqueológico]]
| free_type = Management
| free1 =
| free1_type = Operator
| free2 =
| free2_type = Hours
| free3 = National Monument
| free3_type = Status
| free4 = Decree 16 June 1910; DG 136, 23 June 1910
| free4_type = Listing
<!-- *** Maps *** -->
| map =
| map_caption =
| map_background =
| map_locator =
| map_locator_x = 34
| map_locator_y = 85
<!-- *** Website *** -->
| commons = Anta de Cunha Baixa
| website =
<!-- *** Footnotes *** -->
| footnotes =
}}
}}
The '''Cunha Baixa Dolmen''' ([[Portuguese language|Portuguese]]: Anta de Cunha Baixa) is a [[dolmen]] in [[Cunha Baixa]], Portugal. It is a designated site in the category ''Monumento Nacional''.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.igespar.pt/pt/patrimonio/pesquisa/geral/patrimonioimovel/detail/70677/| title=Anta de Cunha Baixa - detalhe | publisher=[[IGESPAR]] |language= Portuguese| accessdate=2011-9-7}}</ref>
The '''Dolmen of Cunha Baixa''' ({{lang-pt|Anta de Cunha Baixa}}) is a [[dolmen]] in the [[freguesia|civil parish]] of [[Cunha Baixa]], in the municipality of [[Mangualde Municipality|Mangualde]]. It is lcoated in a valley area of the Rio Castelo, between the villages of Cunha Baixa and Espinho.

==History==
From artifacts discovered in and around the archaeological excavations, scientists have determined that it was constructed between 3000 and 2500 A.D.<ref name=SIPA/>

It was discovered in 1892, by Leite de Vasconcelos, who first documented the dolmen, under the authority of Dr. Pais da Cunha, then owner of the property.<ref name=SIPA/> He found the dolmen damaged, with the interior chambers full of dirt, brambles and rocks of various sizes, some eroded or damaged from the dolmen itself. They proceeded to clean-out the chambers and excavate to about 1.17 metres, discovering the first archaeological objects, and then continuing to the table rock. In these excavations Leite de Vasconcelos found in the interior of the dolmen, axes and polished trapezoidal-shaped polished stone [[adze]]s; rudely carved flint blades, trapezoidal microliths, triangular and semi-lunar, fragments of red and black pottery, some with ornaments; yellow ocre for body painting; burnt berry seeds; burnt pieces of substances from a forge or furnace; and a human bone.<ref name=SIPA/>

At the entrance, was an inclined rock slab 1.2 metres by 0.2 metres, with 15 grooves along its edge on both sides. Also in the adjacent terrain, a flint axe, a polished stone implement, six small blades (some jagged) and flint arrowheads, were also discovered.<ref name=SIPA/> The artifacts were transferred to the [[National Archaeology Museum (Lisbon)|National Archaeological Museum]] ({{lang-pt|Museu Nacional de Arqueologia}}) in Lisbon.

It was declared a National Monument ({{lang-pt|Monumento Nacional}}) on 16 June 1910.

In 1934, the Leisners carried-out a plan of the site, and cut a section from the dolmen.<ref name=SIPA/> But, by 1955, I. Moita encountered the dolmen surrounded by scrub and the corridor obstructed by rocks.<ref name=SIPA/>

A restoration and cleaning of the site, under Raquel Vilaça and Domingos Cruz (1987), solicited the A.C.A.B. and the Central Region Archaeological Service ({{lang-pt|Serviço Regional de Arqueologia da Zona Centro}}), with authorization from the [[IGESPAR|IPPC]].<ref name=SIPA/> A similar cleaning was undertaken in 1994 that included cleaning the monument and the area circling the site.<ref name=SIPA/>

==Architecture==
Located along the municipal roadway connecting Cunha Baixa with Espinho, the site is 0.8 kilometres along a footpath to a bridge: 300 metres by foot between two properties in the locality of Orca, or Casa da Moura.<ref name="SIPA">{{cite web|url=http://www.monumentos.pt/Site/APP_PagesUser/SIPA.aspx?id=2378|title=Anta da Cunha Baixa/Casa da Orca |publisher=SIPA – Sistema de Informação para o Património Arquitectónico|editor=SIPA|location=Lisbon, Portugal |language=Portuguese|first=Lina |last=Marques |year=1995|accessdate=20 October 2011}}</ref> It is situated in a rural, fertile plain alongside a river, isolated from view and encircled by vineyards to the south and east, and pine forests to north and northwest, delimited by a wood and wire fence.

Cunha Baixa comprises a main chamber and corridor, although there are no remnants of body within its chamber. The dolmen, is a large polygonal shape enclosure, covered by a great slab of rock, of similarly large dimensions.<ref name="IGESPAR">{{cite web|url=http://www.igespar.pt/en/patrimonio/pesquisa/geral/patrimonioimovel/detail/70677/ |title=Anta de Cunha Baixa |editor=IGESPAR |accessdate=20 September 2011|year=2011 |location=Lisbon, Portugal |publisher=IGESPAR-Instituto de Gestão do Património Arquitectónico e Arqueológico |language=Portuguese}}</ref><ref name=SIPA/> This main chamber is 3 metres wide, and 3.2 metres high, formed from 9 vertical slabs, some fractured or incomplete.<ref name=SIPA/> The entrance rock is parallel to the main stone and inclined towards the interior. The roof-stone is a long rounded rectangular slab, 4.5 metres in diameter.<ref name=SIPA/>

The corridor is 7.20 metre long, at a height of 1.40 metres, oriented along the southeast of the main chamber.<ref name=SIPA/> It is built from 8 vertical slabs on either side (a few reinforced by steel beams), forming side-walls that are wider in the mid-area and converge slightly towards the main chamber entrance.<ref name=SIPA/> The vertical slabs are largely square, although some trapezoid and triangular rock pieces are located in the chamber. At the middle of the corridor, another trapezoidal roof slab, smaller then the first covers only the middle part of the corridor.<ref name=SIPA/>

The pavement of the dolmen is regular, composed of granite rock, with a total surface area of 10.4 metres.<ref name=SIPA/>

In some places there are remnants of carvings (or vestiges), such as pitting or scaring.<ref name=SIPA/>


==References==
==References==
;Notes
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist|2}}
;Sources
* {{citation |last=Vasconcelos |first=Leite de |title=Religiões da Lusitânia |volume=I |location=Lisbon, Portugal |year=1897 |pages=271-272 |language=Portuguese}}
* {{citation |last=Vasconcelos |first=Leite de |contribution=Arqueologia Pré-Histórica da Beira |title=O Arqueólogo Português |volume=IX |location=Lisbon, Portugal |year=1904 |pages=303-308|languages=Portuguese}}
* {{citation |last=Silva |first=Valentim da |title=Concelho de Mangualde (Antigo Concelho de Azurara da Beira) |location=Viseu, Portugal |year=1945 |language=Portuguese}}
* {{citation |last=Moita |first=Irisalva |title=Características Predominantes do Grupo Dolménico da Beira Alta |location=Lisbon, Portugal |year=1966 |language=Portuguese}}
* {{citation |last=Campos |first=José A. Correia de |contribution=Dólmens: Habitações ou Necrópoles? |title=Beira Alta |volume=XLI |location=Viseu, Portugal |year=1982 |pages=167-188 |language=Portuguese}}
* {{citation |last=Vilaça |first=Raquel |last2=Cruz |first2=Domingos |title=A Casa da Orca da Cunha Baixa |location=Mangualde, Portugal |year=1990 |language=Portuguese}}


{{Mangualde}}
{{Mangualde}}
{{European megaliths}}
{{European megaliths}}
{{portugal-struct-stub}}
{{portugal-struct-stub}}
{{commons cat|Anta de Cunha Baixa}}

[[de:Anta da Cunha Baixa]]
[[de:Anta da Cunha Baixa]]
[[pt:Anta de Cunha Baixa]]
[[pt:Anta de Cunha Baixa]]

Revision as of 10:32, 21 September 2011

Template:Geobox The Dolmen of Cunha Baixa (Portuguese: Anta de Cunha Baixa) is a dolmen in the civil parish of Cunha Baixa, in the municipality of Mangualde. It is lcoated in a valley area of the Rio Castelo, between the villages of Cunha Baixa and Espinho.

History

From artifacts discovered in and around the archaeological excavations, scientists have determined that it was constructed between 3000 and 2500 A.D.[1]

It was discovered in 1892, by Leite de Vasconcelos, who first documented the dolmen, under the authority of Dr. Pais da Cunha, then owner of the property.[1] He found the dolmen damaged, with the interior chambers full of dirt, brambles and rocks of various sizes, some eroded or damaged from the dolmen itself. They proceeded to clean-out the chambers and excavate to about 1.17 metres, discovering the first archaeological objects, and then continuing to the table rock. In these excavations Leite de Vasconcelos found in the interior of the dolmen, axes and polished trapezoidal-shaped polished stone adzes; rudely carved flint blades, trapezoidal microliths, triangular and semi-lunar, fragments of red and black pottery, some with ornaments; yellow ocre for body painting; burnt berry seeds; burnt pieces of substances from a forge or furnace; and a human bone.[1]

At the entrance, was an inclined rock slab 1.2 metres by 0.2 metres, with 15 grooves along its edge on both sides. Also in the adjacent terrain, a flint axe, a polished stone implement, six small blades (some jagged) and flint arrowheads, were also discovered.[1] The artifacts were transferred to the National Archaeological Museum (Portuguese: Museu Nacional de Arqueologia) in Lisbon.

It was declared a National Monument (Portuguese: Monumento Nacional) on 16 June 1910.

In 1934, the Leisners carried-out a plan of the site, and cut a section from the dolmen.[1] But, by 1955, I. Moita encountered the dolmen surrounded by scrub and the corridor obstructed by rocks.[1]

A restoration and cleaning of the site, under Raquel Vilaça and Domingos Cruz (1987), solicited the A.C.A.B. and the Central Region Archaeological Service (Portuguese: Serviço Regional de Arqueologia da Zona Centro), with authorization from the IPPC.[1] A similar cleaning was undertaken in 1994 that included cleaning the monument and the area circling the site.[1]

Architecture

Located along the municipal roadway connecting Cunha Baixa with Espinho, the site is 0.8 kilometres along a footpath to a bridge: 300 metres by foot between two properties in the locality of Orca, or Casa da Moura.[1] It is situated in a rural, fertile plain alongside a river, isolated from view and encircled by vineyards to the south and east, and pine forests to north and northwest, delimited by a wood and wire fence.

Cunha Baixa comprises a main chamber and corridor, although there are no remnants of body within its chamber. The dolmen, is a large polygonal shape enclosure, covered by a great slab of rock, of similarly large dimensions.[2][1] This main chamber is 3 metres wide, and 3.2 metres high, formed from 9 vertical slabs, some fractured or incomplete.[1] The entrance rock is parallel to the main stone and inclined towards the interior. The roof-stone is a long rounded rectangular slab, 4.5 metres in diameter.[1]

The corridor is 7.20 metre long, at a height of 1.40 metres, oriented along the southeast of the main chamber.[1] It is built from 8 vertical slabs on either side (a few reinforced by steel beams), forming side-walls that are wider in the mid-area and converge slightly towards the main chamber entrance.[1] The vertical slabs are largely square, although some trapezoid and triangular rock pieces are located in the chamber. At the middle of the corridor, another trapezoidal roof slab, smaller then the first covers only the middle part of the corridor.[1]

The pavement of the dolmen is regular, composed of granite rock, with a total surface area of 10.4 metres.[1]

In some places there are remnants of carvings (or vestiges), such as pitting or scaring.[1]

References

Notes
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Marques, Lina (1995). SIPA (ed.). "Anta da Cunha Baixa/Casa da Orca" (in Portuguese). Lisbon, Portugal: SIPA – Sistema de Informação para o Património Arquitectónico. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
  2. ^ IGESPAR, ed. (2011). "Anta de Cunha Baixa" (in Portuguese). Lisbon, Portugal: IGESPAR-Instituto de Gestão do Património Arquitectónico e Arqueológico. Retrieved 20 September 2011.
Sources
  • Vasconcelos, Leite de (1897), Religiões da Lusitânia (in Portuguese), vol. I, Lisbon, Portugal, pp. 271–272{{citation}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  • Vasconcelos, Leite de (1904), "Arqueologia Pré-Histórica da Beira", O Arqueólogo Português, vol. IX, Lisbon, Portugal, pp. 303–308 {{citation}}: Unknown parameter |languages= ignored (help)CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  • Silva, Valentim da (1945), Concelho de Mangualde (Antigo Concelho de Azurara da Beira) (in Portuguese), Viseu, Portugal{{citation}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  • Moita, Irisalva (1966), Características Predominantes do Grupo Dolménico da Beira Alta (in Portuguese), Lisbon, Portugal{{citation}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  • Campos, José A. Correia de (1982), "Dólmens: Habitações ou Necrópoles?", Beira Alta (in Portuguese), vol. XLI, Viseu, Portugal, pp. 167–188{{citation}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  • Vilaça, Raquel; Cruz, Domingos (1990), A Casa da Orca da Cunha Baixa (in Portuguese), Mangualde, Portugal{{citation}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
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