Taco 1

Megalithic Monument - Neolithic (finais do V milénio / inícios do IV milénio a. C.) (1071)
The megalithic monument of Taco 1 (which integrates the Mamoas do Taco necropolis) is located in the Industrial Zone of Albergaria-a-Velha (Albergaria-a-Velha, Aveiro). It is geographically inserted in the Centro Norte Litoral, more specifically on the "Albergaria platform". This west-leaning area is limited by small elevations, with North-South orientation, from Fradelos (North) to Srª do Socorro (South). The archaeological works (1985 and 2014) revealed a circular mamoa, made of clay materials, having 34m in diameter and 2.20m of maximum height, without the outer stone carapace, but with an intermediate stone structure. The tumulus covered an elongated polygonal chamber composed of nine orthostats, 3.60m long by 2.70m wide and its opening facing southeast. The interior space of the chamber will have been intentionally lowered and filled with a "thin layer of sand", where most of the artefacts were collected. There was no trace of orthostat counterforts, which can be explained by the use of relatively small orthostats and clay soil in its construction, which was thicker around the chamber and may have worked as a counterfort. The orthostat number 3 was found having four engravings formed by circular concentric arcs which are engraved in its upper half, as well as other artistic engravings found later in the orthostats: 1 - two sets of parallel grooves; 2 - A sub-rectangular figure with rounded edges with a line starting on its lower-left corner. It also presents a figure composed of two vertical, parallel lines, which are connected on the top by a horizontal line. A small appendix was engraved close to the upper right corner. 3 - Besides the figure formed by the circular concentric arcs, a reticular motif was engraved at the base of the orthostat (30x17cm), presenting three horizontal sections and in which the upper and lower sections display three vertical lines, one of which crosses the middle section. 4 - possible engraving composed of two sets of linear depressions. 5 - rounded corner rectangle (14x10), speckled.

Overview

The site is prepared to receive visits. Presence of explanatory panels on site.

Visit conditions

Free entrance with information

Timetables

Contacts

Documents

    How to get there? Best practices

    Best practices

    Good practices when visiting archaeological sites

    To visit an archaeological site is to connect with our origins, to understand our path and evolution as a species integrated in the environment, and to respect and safeguard our heritage so that future generations can also visit and enjoy it.

    Walking the paths and enjoying the structures and archaeological pieces that survived over time, fosters the understanding of what is different, but also of what is common among different populations: basically, what identifies us as Homo Sapiens.

    More than just vestiges and ruins of the past, archaeological sites showcase our capacity for creative thought, adaptation, interconnection, comprehension and resilience. Without these traits we would not have been successful as cultural beings participating in an ongoing evolutionary process. These sites also allow to consider choices made in the past thus contributing for decisions in the present to be made with greater awareness and knowledge.

    Archaeological sites are unique and irreplaceable. These sites are fragile resources vulnerable to changes driven by human development. The information they keep, if destroyed, can never be recovered again.

    As such, the Directorate-General for Cultural Heritage (DGPC) invites all visitors to enjoy the beauty and authenticity of these sites, while helping to preserve them for future generations by adopting the following set of good practices:

    • Respect all signs; 
    • Do not try to access fenced areas; 
    • Do not climb, sit or walk on archaeological structures and remains; 
    • Respect areas where archaeological excavations are being carried out, not disturbing them; 
    • Do not collect materials or sediments;
    • Do not write or make graffiti on archaeological structures; 
    • Put the garbage in appropriate containers. If none exist, take the garbage with you until you find a suitable container; 
    • Leave the archaeological site as you found it; 
    • Do not drive bicycles or motor vehicles over archaeological sites; 
    • Respect and protect the plants and animals that live in the areas surrounding archaeological sites;
    • Report signs of vandalism or destruction to DGPC or Regional Directorates of Culture (DRC);
    • Share the visiting experience and the archaeological sites, as a way of raising awareness to their preservation and making them better known;
    • Do not buy archaeological materials and report to public security authorities, DGPC or DRC, if you suspect that archaeological materials may be for sale.

    Further information:

    AIA / ATTA (2013) – Guide to best practices for archaeological tourism. 

    Raposo, J. (2016) – Código de conduta para uma visita responsável a sítios arqueológicos. In Sítios arqueológicos portugueses revisitados: 500 arqueossítios ou conjuntos em condições de fruição pública responsável. Al-madan, 2ª série, p. 20 – 77. 

    DGPC contacts

    Phone: +351213614200 | Email: informacaoarqueologica@dgpc.pt

     


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