Castro de Leceia

During the first phase (upper Neolithic) more specifically between the end of 4th millennium BCE and beginning of the 3rd millennium BCE, circular houses were built without any extra defensive constructions.[2] Since the beginning of its occupation, the inhabitants of the Castro are thought to have been strongly sedentary.[3] Of all the ungulate remains found, swine (used for meat) were the most frequent, followed by bovine (meat, milk and as draft animals) and caprine species (meat, milk, and wool), with sheep being particularly frequent in this latter group.[3] Given the frequency of each type of animal and each animals' meat yield, researchers think the main contributors of protein for the Neolithic inhabitants of Leceia were bovine, with hare and deer as a vestigial part of their diet.[3]

During the second phase (lower Chalcolithic), thee lines of walls made of blocks of local limestone were rapidly built, covering a total of 11,000 squared meters.[1] This construction was done between 2900 and 2800 BCE, after a short abandonment of the area between the first and second phases, which probably did not exceed a few dozens of years.[2] These walls had three entrances, protected by towards.[1] During this phase, the caprine species become predominant due to a greater focus on secondary (i.e., non-meat) products such as wool and milk.[3] The caprine species were then followed by swine and bovine species in terms of frequency.[3] The main source of protein, in this phase, switches from bovine to swine species.[3] The Equus genus is present in this phase, but in a reduced frequency and undomesticated.[3] Hare and deer remain as a vestigial part of the population's diet.[3] There are also multiple ceramic findings from this phase, belonging to a specific style typical of the Estremadurean lower Chalcolithic.[2]

In a third phase the defensive structures are reinforced and the entrances are made narrower.[1] During this period, the caprine species remain predominant and increase in frequency, being accompanied by the emergence of cheese molds and the increase in weaving-related ceramics.[3] The conclusions regarding the remaining species are similar to the previous phase.[3] A significant shift is observed in the ceramics, with the Estremadurean lower Chalcolithic style become vestigial and being replaced by the Estremadurean middle Chalcolithic style.[2] It is also in this phase that the use of copper metallurgy becomes widespread and researchers consider this to be the height of the Castro's economic activity.[2]

In the fourth phase the defensive structures are again reinforced and new, ellipsoidal houses are built, increasing the density of the constructions within the walls.[1] Bell beakers have been found in two of these ellipsoidal houses.[2]

At the end of the Chalcolithic (around 4th and the beginning of the 3rd millennium BCE), the Castro is abandoned.[2] Some structures are dismantled or destroyed,[1] but some construction is still done in this phase, with houses being built onto the defensive walls.[2]