Portable art of the Côa Valley (Vila Nova de Foz Côa, Portugal): Fariseu archeological site

Abstract

The repertoire of Palaeolithic portable art in Portugal is very meager. In December of 1999, during salvage archaeological excavations at the Fariseu Station (Vila Nova de Foz Côa, Portugal), two schist slabs were found in stratigraphic context. The archaeological deposit has not been dated radiometrically, but one of the slabs, containing rich thematic artwork, has been ascribed to the Magdalenian period based on the study of the lithic artefacts. The other slab, displaying a single zoomorphic figure, has been associated with early Magdalenian or Proto-Solutrean occupations. In this paper, evidence of this kind of artistic manifestations is reviewed for the context of the Iberian peninsula, paying special attention to the Mediterranean region. Furthermore, the two slabs found are analysed in relation to the rock art of the Côa Valley in order to provide elements of chronological value for this rich repertoire of prehistoric rock art.

Keywords

• grafismo mueble paleolítico
• fariseu
• valle de côa
• portugal