The region of Braga has been inhabited since pre-historic times, and in the Iron Age the Bracaripeople occupied the region and built their characteristic fortified villages (castrum). It was the capital of the Callaici Bracarii, or Bracarenses, a tribe who occupied what is now Galicia and northern Portugal. It has been long known that they spoke a Celtic language, as can be seen in the inscription dedicated to the goddess Nabia at Braga's Fonte do Ídolo, or in the name of their town Tongobriga.
Sample
Brief anthropological analysis :
- Type 1 : Dark complexion, leptomorphic, gracile general features, narrow "horsy" face, long and narrow nose, high cheekbones, a rather broad jaw, close-set eyes, rather narrow eyelids
~ Nordo-Mediterranoid
This type was already identified in other Portuguese areas. It is quite prevailing amongst women as well albeit within a lighter spectrum as usual in North Portugal.
- Type 2 : Dark complexion (dark hair but rather pale skin), brachymorphic, broad face, round features, short and broad nose, wide-set eyes, from dark to light eyes ("green-blue")
~ Alpinoid
This type was previously identified in Portuguese Alto Douro. It's much rare here and surprisingly enough, a very Portuguese-looking variant characterized by wide-spaced sloping eyes, a short broad nose and thick browridges (this type would fit a "Berid" definition) is absent from this sample. Lighter individuals are found as well.
Brief anthropological analysis :
- Type 1 : Dark complexion, leptomorphic, gracile general features, narrow "horsy" face, long and narrow nose, high cheekbones, a rather broad jaw, close-set eyes, rather narrow eyelids
~ Nordo-Mediterranoid
This type was already identified in other Portuguese areas. It is quite prevailing amongst women as well albeit within a lighter spectrum as usual in North Portugal.
- Type 2 : Dark complexion (dark hair but rather pale skin), brachymorphic, broad face, round features, short and broad nose, wide-set eyes, from dark to light eyes ("green-blue")~ Alpinoid
This type was previously identified in Portuguese Alto Douro. It's much rare here and surprisingly enough, a very Portuguese-looking variant characterized by wide-spaced sloping eyes, a short broad nose and thick browridges (this type would fit a "Berid" definition) is absent from this sample. Lighter individuals are found as well.
- Final morphotypes :
