ACORES (Portugal) :Carthaginian temples found
Carthaginian temples found – Azores
Source - http://portuguese-american-journal.com/carthaginian-temples-found-azores/
Archaeologists from the Portuguese Association of Archeological Research (APIA) believe to have found in the Azores a significant number of Carthaginian temples, from the fourth century BC, dedicated to the goddess Tanit.
The new archaeological sites were found in Monte Brasil, Angra Heroismo, Terceira island.
According to APIA’s archaeologists Nuno Ribeiro and Anabela Joaquinito, “More than five hypogea type monuments (tombs excavated in rocks) and at least three ‘sanctuaries’ proto-historic, carved into the rock, were found.”
A monument located at “Monte do Facho” shows inbuilt sink shaped carvings linked to water conduits for libations. “There are ‘chairs’ carved into the rock, a ceremonial tank covered by vegetation, and dozens of post holes indicating the existence of a shelter over the area,” they said.
The APIA’s researchers said, “The temples carved inside the hypogea structures are large and very well preserved and were drawn almost in a triangular shape.”
They said, “In the first temple there are four sinks linked to conduits to collect fresh water associated with ritual libations, probably for sacrifices purposes.”
The second and third shrines are located in the area of the Forte de São Diogo and were discovered in late June.
Recently, traces of Sunni inscriptions were discovered on São Miguel and Terceira islands, by APIA archeologist Nuno Ribeiro. Previously, a number of Carthaginian and Greek coins were found on the island of Corvo and dozens of pre-Christian hypogea were uncovered on the islands of Terceira and Corvo. Similar findings were also reported on the islands of Santa Maria and Flores.
Based on their findings, researchers now believe it is possible to establish that human presence in the Azores precedes the Portuguese occupation of the islands in the fifteen century.
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New archeological findings under investigation – Azores
Source - http://portuguese-american-journal.com/new-archeological-findings-under-investigation-azores/
According to Nuno Ribeiro, president of the Portuguese Association of Archeological Research (APIA), additional archeological findings currently under investigation may help to prove human presence in the Azores preceded the Portuguese occupation of the islands in the fifteenth century.
In a statement to the press , Ribeiro said that traces of Sunni inscriptions were discovered on Terceira island in addition to ancient rock carvings found on Terceira and São Miguel islands.
Previously, a number of Carthaginian and Greek coins were found on the island of Corvo. Recently, dozens of pre-Christian hypogea were also found on the islands of Terceira and Corvo.
Ribeiro stated that, although such archeological findings have been reported on most of the nine Azorean islands, so far “there are more doubts that certainty.”
Early in March, Nuno Ribeiro revealed that dozens of pre-Christian burial sites were found on the islands of Terceira and Corvo. The old monuments are believed to be over 2000 years old. Similar findings were now reported on the islands of Santa Maria and Flores.
Ribeiro reported the findings after an outing he made in August 2010. Acording to him, the monuments have parallels in the Mediterranean world, namely in the Greek and Carthaginian cultures, where they were used for burials.
Ribeiro also reported that a research grant proposal was submitted to the office of Cultural Affairs of the Regional Government of the Azores whose objective is to establish funding to proceed with research work to determine the origin of the APIA findings.
Researchers are meeting in a conference underway, on Wednesday and Saturday, in Santa Maria and Terceira respectively, to debate the APIA findings.
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