This is a place of long centuries of history Vila Nova de Cerveira, where we can observe the ruins of Castro period. A central street layout separates two blocks, with the typical round houses. Each block would belong to a family unit. We see, well defined, rounded holes - silos - where conserved food. The foods of people who were very focused on agriculture, was also concerned at fishing activity.
In the late first century AD, this site gets to be profoundly altered as a result of Romanization, which will meet its peak in the fourth century AD. The population begins to take over the slope facing the river. The buildings, now Roman type, become more complex: larger houses built in terraces - adapted to the morphology of the land - several stock rooms and warehouses. In warehouses, were kept, among other products, wine, olive oil and traditional canned fish of the Romans. On the bank Minho River would be a pier, first natural, and then artificial, that allowed this place would work as a trading post. The products comers hereafter are shipped at regional level from that pier.
The end of Roman rule has been the end of the economic heyday, provided by commercial relationships. In the sixth century, began the Swabian-Visigoth period. The construction of this phase presents lower build quality and aesthetics and less durability than the time of the Romans. This archaeological station in which we find ourselves is, however, the only of the north of the country where they are preserved intact many levels of Swabian-Visigoth period.
Is supposed that, from the eleventh century, this place was been practically abandoned. So would be until the seventeenth century, until the period of the Restoration Wars. Then, it was built on top of the hill, the Fortress of Lovelhe. Castro and Roman buildings have been demolished in order to reuse the stone to build the Fortress which would reinforce the system of frontier defense.
Location: Vila Nova de Cerveira
