A formalização de espaços públicos durante o Calcolítico no Alto Douro Português: as Grandes Estruturas Circulares do Castanheiro do Vento (V. N. de Foz Côa)

Abstract

The walled enclosure of Castanheiro do Vento (V. N. Foz Côa) is an intricate and labyrinthine constructed space characterised by a significant variety of structures. This paper focuses on large circular structures (GEC), which can be identified by their size and general ground plan. Through an analysis of these architectural units, this study hypothesises that these spaces hosted various activities, indicating the multifaceted and complex relationships between the site and the surrounding territory. The paper further explores the integration of the territory and the everyday lives of the communities within the enclosure through the formalisation and use of these spaces. From this perspective, the structures are interpreted as assembly areas - public spaces that manifest the territorial network of the enclosure.