{{short description|Neolithic site in Portugal}} {{About|the Chalcolithic archaeological site at Torres Vedras in Portugal|the fort in Mafra municipality, Portugal | Fort of Zambujal}} {{Infobox historic site | name = Castro of Zambujal | image = Zambujal-DG-25-8210744.jpg | caption = The excavations on the Zambujal promontory in 2007, showing in front the 4th fortification line | coordinates = {{coord|39|4|27.78|N|9|17|8.20|W|display=inline,title}} | location = [[Lisbon District|Lisbon]], [[Portugal]] | type = Settlement | built = {{circa|3000 BC}} | abandoned = {{circa|1700 BC}} | discovered = 1932 by Leonel Trindade }}
The '''Castro of Zambujal''' ({{langx|pt|Castro do Zambujal}}) is a [[Chalcolithic]] age archeological site in the municipality of [[Torres Vedras]] in the [[Oeste Subregion|western litoral area]] of the [[Centro Region, Portugal|Centro Region]], [[Portugal]]. The Zambujal Castro is one of the most important [[Chalcolithic|Copper Age]] settlements in the peninsula of Lisbon, and whose culture lasted until the beginning of the agrarian periods of Iberian history. Apart from being the most northerly discovered Copper Age site in Portugal, it went through two main building phases: an import-oriented phase and the second associated with the [[Beaker culture#Iberian peninsula|Beaker culture]].
Most of the artefacts discovered at the site are stored and displayed in the [[Leonel Trindade Municipal Museum, Torres Vedras]].<ref name=SIPA/>
==Excavations== The site was discovered and interpreted in 1932 by the Portuguese archaeologist Leonel Trindade,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dainst.org/en/project/zambujal?ft=all |title=Zambujal |publisher=Deutsches Archäologisches Institut |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103021703/http://www.dainst.org/en/project/zambujal?ft=all |archive-date=2014-01-03 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> who made the first investigation in 1944 and, together with Aurélio Ricardo Belo, from 1959 to 1961.
From 1964 until the present, excavations have mainly been financed by the [[German Archaeological Institute of Madrid]]. Excavations from 1964 to 1973 were directed by Hermanfrid Schubart ([[German Archaeological Institute]]) and Edward Sangmeister ([[University of Freiburg]]).<ref name=SIPA/> From 1994 to 1995, new work at the site was started by Michael Kunst ([[German Archaeological Institute]]) and Hans-Peter Uerpmann ([[University of Tübingen]]). With the support of the Municipal Council of Torres Vedras, Kunst has continued the excavations.<ref name=SIPA/>
==History== [[File:Zambujal-MK-1994-25-18.jpg|thumb|235px|left|The Copper Age nucleus of the fortified site of Zambujal in October 1994]] The site was first occupied in the [[Chalcolithic]] period, at the beginning of the 3rd millennium BC. Research from the last 30 years suggests that the region of the actual Portuguese Estremadura in Central Portugal was the region where the “[[Bell Beaker]]” phenomenon started, around the middle of the 3rd millennium BC, and from there spread to other European regions during the later Chalcolithic or early [[Bronze Age]].<ref name="SIPA">{{cite report |url=http://www.monumentos.pt/Site/APP_PagesUser/SIPA.aspx?id=6349 |title=Monumento pré-histórico no Casal do Zambujal / Castro do Zambujal (v.PT031113130010) |publisher=Sistema de Informação para o Património Arquitectónico (SIPA) |place=Lisbon, Portugal |language=Portuguese |first=Paula |last=Noé |year=1991 |access-date=20 April 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140329112328/http://www.monumentos.pt/Site/APP_PagesUser/SIPA.aspx?id=6349 |archive-date=29 March 2014 }}</ref><ref name="IGESPAR">{{cite web |url=http://www.igespar.pt/en/patrimonio/pesquisa/geral/patrimonioimovel/detail/70158/ |title=Monumento pré-histórico existente no Casal do Zambujal, com o terreno circunjacente, em que assenta uma povoação do começo do bronze |place=Lisbon, Portugal |publisher=IGESPAR - Instituto de Gestão do Património Arquitectónico e Arqueológico |language=Portuguese |first=A. |last=Martins |year=2011 |access-date=20 April 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140329094117/http://www.igespar.pt/en/patrimonio/pesquisa/geral/patrimonioimovel/detail/70158/ |archive-date=29 March 2014}}</ref>
Zambujal from this period is relatively well conserved, some walls still standing up to a height of 4 meters, and is one of the most important sites with extensive stratigraphy. The site and surrounding land was specifically tied to a [[chalcolithic]] settlement that constructed a wall around itself to protect its community from attack.<ref name=SIPA/><ref name=IGESPAR/> The settlers, who may have been from the peninsula but perhaps with Eastern Mediterranean contacts, based their economy on [[intensive farming]]. They were also part of an economic network importing commodities like gold, copper, [[amphibolite]] stone, and ivory between 3000 and 1700 BC.<ref name=SIPA/><ref name=IGESPAR/>
[[File:Zambujal Phasen.gif|235px|right|thumb|Animation showing five of the constructive phases on the site according to E. Sangmeister and H. Schubart, updated by the new excavations of M. Kunst]] Based on the excavations and analysis of Sangmeister, Schubart, and Trindade (1969),<ref name=SST1969>{{cite book |last=Sangmeister |first=Edward |last2=Schubart |first2=Hermanfrid |last3=Trindade |first3=Leonel |year=1969 |contribution=Escavações no Castro Eneolítico do Zambujal |title=O Arqueólogo Português |volume=Série III, vol. 3 |location=Lisbon, Portugal |language=Portuguese}}</ref><ref name=SST1970>{{cite book |last=Sangmeister |first=Edward |last2=Schubart |first2=Hermanfrid |last3=Trindade |first3=Leonel |year=1971 |title=Escavações na Fortificação da Idade do Cobre do Zambujal / Portugal 1970 |volume=Série III, vol. 5 |place=Lisbon, Portugal |language=Portuguese}}</ref> the site went through several successive phases of occupation and development:<ref name=SIPA/><ref name=IGESPAR/> * construction of "soft walls", relatively straight, yet, narrow channels, with the fortifications developing in sections; * reinforcement of the northern gateway, through the construction of new soft bastions, and reinforcement of sections; * reinforcement of all walls, construction of small semi-circular towers, and sections; * fortification of the walls, construction of large semi-circular towers, completed in sections; * free-form walls constructed using small slabs, the construction of projecting [[barbican]]s, also completed in sections; * constructed of massive buildings surrounding the structure; * towers covered by cupolas developed in the interior, rounded spaces, while the fortifications were reinforced, around 1700 BC<ref name=IGESPAR/>
Although uncertain as to the date, the fortification was partially destroyed (principally the central structures) to construct a rural adobe farmhouse (today known as the ''Casal do Zambujal'').<ref name=SIPA/><ref name=IGESPAR/>
==Architecture== [[File:Architectural model of Castro do Zambujal.jpg|thumb|alt=Architectural model of the Castro of Zambujal in Leonel Trindade Municipal Museum|[[Architectural model]] of the Castro of Zambujal in [[Leonel Trindade Municipal Museum]]]]
The site is located in the semi-rural area of the parish of [[Santa Maria do Castelo e São Miguel]], along one of the flanks of the Serra do Varatojo mountain range. Situated on a platform, the location extends down towards the Sizandro River, approximately {{convert|3|km|mi}} from the urban center of Torres Vedras.<ref name=SIPA/><ref name=IGESPAR/>
The houses on-site were oval shaped, approximately {{convert|6|m|ft}} in diameter, and made from [[adobe]].<ref name=SIPA/>
<gallery> File:Castro do Zambujal 2010 - 1.JPG|The inner wall constituting the [[barbican]] built in the 2nd phase of occupation Only the central part of the original fortification remains. The interior courtyard includes a space approximately {{convert|25|m|ft}} diameter, circled by a solid wall, which runs independently for several metres.<ref name=SIPA/> The exterior is reinforced by 10 turrets with diameters varying between {{convert|6|m|ft}} and {{convert|7|m|ft}} in a semi-circular layout; four are complete, one is partly complete, and the remaining five are completely destroyed.<ref name=SIPA/> The walls themselves range from {{convert|1.6|m|ft}} to {{convert|3.6|m|ft}} in width and {{convert|3|m|ft}} to {{convert|7|m|ft}} in height.<ref name=SIPA/><ref name=IGESPAR/> File:Castro do Zambujal 2010 - 3.JPG|An access corridor between the individual sections of the site There are four doors within the structure (south, north, northeast and west), with the likelihood that six doors or passageways provided access to the courtyard between the fortifications inner and outer walls.<ref name=IGESPAR/> These passages were short and narrow and permitted only one person at a time from accessing the spaces, likely on all-fours.<ref name=SIPA/> One of the spaces connects the battlement's gallery and these passages.<ref name=SIPA/> </gallery>
==Current projects==
To prevent further ruin of the archaeology, the Municipal Council of Torres Vedras acquired 48 hectares to guarantee the protection of the national monument in 2006.<ref name=SIPA/>
The Portuguese Institute of Architectural Patrimony and Archaeology (IPPAR) has an architectural project to restore the adobe houses adjacent to the site, as well as a landscaping project, which included fencing the site, creating greenspaces, and the construction of support facilities, walkways, trails, explanatory signs, and a small museum.<ref name=SIPA/> {{clear left}}
==See also== *[[Bell Beaker culture]] *[[Castro of Vila Nova de São Pedro]] *[[:pt:Castelo Velho de Freixo de Numão|Castelo Velho de Freixo de Numão]] *[[:pt:Castro de Leceia|Castro de Leceia]] *[[Los Millares]] *[[Valencina de la Concepción]] *[[Castro culture]] *[[Tholos do Barro]], a nearby chalcolithic burial chamber
==References== ===Citations=== {{reflist}}
===Sources=== * {{cite book |last=Santos |first=Manuel Farinha dos |title=Pré-História de Portugal |location=Lisbon, Portugal |year=1972 |language=Portuguese}} * {{cite book |last=Almeida |first=José António Ferreira de |title=Tesouros Artísticos de Portugal |place=Porto, Portugal |year=1988 |language=Portuguese}} * {{cite book |last=Abreu |first=Daniel |contribution=Povoado Pré-Histórico do Zambujal vai ser Recuperado |title=Frente Oeste |date=28 December 1989 |page=10 |language=Portuguese}} * {{cite book |last=Humberto |first=Jorge |contribution=O Senhor Castro |title=Frente Oeste |place=Torres Vedras, Portugal |date=7 April 1994 |pages=4 |language=Portuguese}} * {{cite book |title=Torres Vedras, Passado e Presente |volume=1 |place=Torres Vedras, Portugal |year=1996 |language=Portuguese}}
[[Category:National monuments in Lisbon District|Castro Zambujal]] [[Category:Castros in Portugal|Zambujal]] [[Category:Archaeological sites in Lisbon District]] [[Category:Populated places established in the 3rd millennium BC]] [[Category:Populated places disestablished in the 2nd millennium BC]] [[Category:1932 archaeological discoveries]] [[Category:Archaeological discoveries in Portugal]]