Location. A Chaira. Parish of San Salvador de Molgas.
Type of monument. Petroglyph. Megalithic item. Interest: architectural, historical, ethnographical.
Dated. The Bronze Age (2nd millennium BC)
Description. In “Insuiña” or “Ansuiña”, three petroglyphs are located about 100 meters from each other. Their location is easy to find because they are outside the football field of Baños de Molgas.
• Petroglyph 1, features a herringbone or plant, with stem and by ending in cups.
• Petroglyphs 2 and 3, are a set of cups with indeterminate representations; very common in this municipality.
What is a petroglyph? A petroglyph is any shape or form made on a stone or rock. Their function is thought to have been ritual and symbolic. However, even in the Bronze Age the practice of farming were already widespread, hence we believe that they were used for important rituals in the life cycles of the people or year.
Their use and symbolism is not absolutely known, but there was almost certainly a magical significance connected to the territory, animals and even to people; and were perhaps used in initiation rituals or hunting.
In Galicia and north-western peninsular there are three types of common themes: naturalistic (represent human beings as people or animals), geometric: (circles, spirals, squares, or even more complex shapes such as mazes), weapons and shields (Less common).
Cataloging. Municipal Inventory of Heritage Assets.
