Rock Engravings of Cabeço Das Pombas

Located on a granite outcrop in the parish of Pinheiros, the Cabeço das Pombas rock engravings are an artistic-religious manifestation of great importance, supposedly dating back to the Bronze Age, although their exact symbolism is unknown. It is believed that they were associated with a ceremonial cult. The first phase of the engraving is thought to have been made in the Bronze Age, 2nd millennium BC. This sanctuary has symbolic motifs that are very uncommon in the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula. In the center of the panel is a representation of a branch, in the center of which a face was engraved at a later date; to the right of this figure and in a later area are a group of figures that may be related to a ceremonial act. They are made up of ferrules, a pair of tongs and a rim, which may represent a vessel, and a figure made up of ten lines, which seem to represent flames. Also in this set, and to the right, is the acronym IPRM and a representation with twelve arms.