A oficina campaniforme de instrumentos de sílex do Alto do Cidreira, Cascais

Abstract

The excavations carried out in Alto do Cidreira, Cascais, in 2007 led to the identification of a domestic unit implanted at the top of a south‑facing slope, constituted by a fireplace protected from the NW winds by a possible windbreak. These two structures were located in the open air, certainly in the vicinity of a hut that was not identified during the excavation. The almost exclusive occurrence of incised beaker ceramics and from where the fine productions associated to maritime vases are completely absent has parallels in other domestic sites spread across the fertile region located along the north bank of the Tagus mouth and corresponds to the less differentiated segment of the population, whose elites, associated with fine productions, would occupy the fortified villages of the region, such as that of Leceia. This is the first evidence of a beaker workshop specialized in the preparation of artefacts identified in Portuguese territory, as indicated by the hundreds of chipping flakes from flint cores, an abundant raw material obtained in the Cretaceous formations of the surrounding region, often exhibiting heat treatment. This feature explains the existence of the identified combustion structure. To reinforce this conclusion, two sketches of artefacts were collected, which are added to the few flint instruments identified whose remarkable diversity is explained by the fact that they correspond to the set used by the specialized community that during a short period of time frequented this place.