0026 - Cup marks

Cup marks are very common in Alentejo's prehistory and their meanings are still a mystery. They appear isolated or in clusters in outcrops, menhirs or passage graves monoliths. This granitic bloc, with an oval shape, is covered with these cup marks in a quite unique way. It is at the surface, inside Perdigões enclosure.   

(Photo copyright Miguel Lago / Era Arqueologia)

(Photo copyright A.C. Valera / Era Arqueologia)

Photos published here.

0025 - Deers in Perdigões (2)

The deer was a special animal in Recent Prehistory. Its representation in rock art, in pottery decoration or the ceremonial use of its antlers and of its phalanges for carving anthropomorphic figurines leave few doubts about their important role in the imaginary of Prehistoric communities.

Here is a small figurine of a deer, carved in ivory, collected in Tomb 2 of Perdigões.

(Photo copyright A.C. Valera / Era Arqueologia)

For further information and interpretation of these figurines see here.

0024 - Hybridism

(Photo copyright A.C. Valera / Era Arqueologia)

These are two animal half mandibles. One of a Equus sp. (horse), at right, the other of Sus sp. (a pig or boar). They were deposited like that in the top of Pit 84 of Perdigões. Joined but facing opposite directions. The horse mandible pointing to North and the other to South.

                                        (Photo copyright A.C. Valera / Era Arqueologia)

They were close to an agglomeration of small stones and left of a small Adz. In a recent paper, this careful and intentional deposition was interpreted as an example of the hybridism and fluidity that characterizes the ontologies and world views of Late Prehistoric communities. The way things are deposited, how they are combined and organized in the depositions, communicate. They are a sort of writing.

It is published here.

0023 - "Horn idol"

(Photo copyright A.C. Valera / Era Arqueologia)

This "horn idol" was collected at Hypogeum 1, in Perdigões, dating from the Late Neolithic (last quarter of the 4th millennium BC). It is decorated with incised lines, suggesting the attribute of other figurines interpreted as facial tattoos. 

Published here.