Rock-cut graves and cemeteries in the medieval rural landscape of the Viseu region (central Portugal)

Viseu and its territory are located in central-northern Portugal, between the Douro and the Mondego rivers. This was a frontier territory between Christians and Muslims from the 8th to the 11th centuries. A large number of rock-cut tombs are known in the area. These sites, which are devoid of grave goods, are generally organized in small scattered groups (one to ten tombs) and are seldom clustered in large cemeteries. As far as the available evidence shows, the majority lack any close relationship with religious buildings, whereas some are known to be located in proximity to habitation places. Available data on these religious and socio-economic phenomena indicate we are dealing with segmentary societies in which family and kinship relations played a structuring role in the funerary landscape of the region.