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The Pedra Formosa of Briteiros is explained in light of the symbolic forms sculpted on the surface, like a facade, and its meaning is discussed in comparison with other “beautiful stones” and objects found in these monuments of the Castro settlements. The observations made in this article pertain to the group of buildings located in the region of Minho and Douro, facing the Atlantic Ocean, which have been interpreted as baths or saunas, and more recently, considered within the context of a warriors’ rite of rebirth. We propose a new hypothesis: the monuments would have a function associated with maternity and childbirth, they would be like ‘maternity houses’ or ‘birthing houses’. The use of these spaces would be functional and ritualistic, against a mythological background; their implantation in the landscape is significant in relation to outstanding places of the territory and settlements, and the architectural composition of the known cases denotes an anthropomorphic analogy. This hypothesis makes visible and highlights the social representation of woman and the vital role of motherhood, fertility and life in engendering a community.
