The Outeiro dos Riscos (monticule of risks) is a monolith with 15 meters long and 4 meters wide, located on the slopes of the western side of the Arestal mountain, and was classified as a public interest site in 2013. The engravings cover an area of 2.75 meters high and 1.75 meters long, and the designed motives are exclusively of geometric character, dominating the circular combinations, particularly sets of concentric circles. These reasons are all arranged on the surface facing towards the top of the hillside, where it forms a small natural amphitheater, nearly vertical, with some concentric circles to achieve considerable size, sometimes filled with cruciform signs. Nearby, a second monolith also has engravings, with a small spiral and a reticulated pattern.
Standing on this slope of the Arestal mountain one can catch sight of the valley of the river Caima with the villages of Trebilhadouro, Função, Rôge and Sandiães, and the imposing Freita’s mountain range in the distance, punctuated by the geodesic mark of São Pedro Velho and the meteorological tower of Freita. At these altitudes the mountain meadows are the highlights with interesting species such as the marsh gentian, the hoop petticoat daffodil and the marsh fritillary butterfly. The knapweed, found in more arid land, surprising for its finely delicate divided petals. In the pine forests we find small oak spots where we can listen to the bullfinch, and the clatter of the great spotted woodpecker on tree trunks in search of food. The eurasian eagle-owl can also be heard in Arestal mountain with its powerful vocalizations echoing in the night.
The legends and traditions attributed the existence of these engravings to the Roman presence in this region. However, it seems that the Atlantic art which this art form is part, expressed itself from the 4th millennium the 1st millennium B.C. between the Neo chalcolithic and the Bronze Age. The name Outeiro dos Riscos (or “Cabeço do Outeiro dos Riscos” as it is also known locally) is connected, most likely, to open traits and risks in the respective faces of granite outcrops. The significance of this rock art is wrapped in mystery, with some hypotheses to be put by the researchers: are those symbolic-religious engravings? The petroglyphs indicate local geography of the land? Circles would be heavenly bodies? Would these monoliths mark fields of warlords? Let’s keep an open door, on the interpretation of this rock art of timeless beauty.
