A team of researchers associated with the University of Marburg, in Germany, is this week doing geophysical prospecting work at the Archaeological Site of Cerro do Castelo de Alferce, in the Monchique mountains.
Rui André, mayor of Monchique, an entity that supports the carrying out of these works, which are accompanied by Fábio Capela, a municipal archaeologist, explains that «these geophysical surveys will make it possible to “radiograph” the terrain and, in this context, provide information about the stratigraphic potential and archaeological subsoil, thus making it possible to plan more accurately the strategy of archaeological excavations that we are going to carry out».
"In recent years we have been promoting the study and enhancement of this site, which corresponds to a fortified village with an intramural area of approximately 9,5 hectares," added the mayor.
The last archaeological excavation took place in 2017, having been made by a team of six archaeologists led by Fábio Capela, with the scientific supervision of João Pedro Bernardes, archaeologist and professor at the University of Algarve.
Last year, the great fire in Monchique that caused so many and such profound damages throughout the municipality, especially in the parish of Alferce, also destroyed the dense vegetation that, over the decades, covered the visible structures of the old fortification. An opportunity that the Municipality of Monchique now wants to take advantage of to deepen the investigation into that archaeosite.
Castelo de Alferce is a town with origins in the Bronze Age, or perhaps older, from the Chalcolithic (3rd and 2nd millennium BC, that is, between 5000 and 4000 years ago), which was later occupied in the Islamic period, between the XNUMXth and XNUMXth centuries (Emiral period), perhaps functioning as hisn (small fortified village), probably supporting the Castle of Silves.
What remains of the fortification, located on a hill with an immense view over Picota, the river basin of Ribeira de Odelouca, the roads between Silves and Monchique, and the coast, are sections of the walls, the base of turrets and an old cistern.
But don't expect great monumentality, because the prepared stone that the ancients used to build the walls was, over the centuries, taken by the population to their own constructions.
Taking into account the importance of the archaeological site, the Municipality of Monchique is now preparing an application to CRESC Algarve 2020, in order to be able to proceed with a vast excavation campaign.
According to Rui André, the application also includes the creation of an Interpretative Center in Alferce, as well as a pedestrian path that connects the village to the archesite, passing by the neighboring Barranco do Demo, with geological formations of great interest.
The team from the University of Marburg, which started today, the 9th, to carry out the geophysical prospecting at Castelo de Alferce, has already collaborated with Portuguese researchers in other archaeological sites in the Algarve. The most recent was the Boca do Rio (Vila do Bispo), last year.
The so-called Castelo de Alferce was classified as a Site of Public Interest in 2013.
Read more about Alferce Castle:
Mysteries of Alferce Castle unveiled in an archaeological campaign
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