tradition
Orca
By João Ferreira
A traditional stone or clay vessel used to store grain, olive oil, and provisions in rural Beiras households.
The orca is a large stone or clay storage vessel traditionally found in the granite houses of the Beiras. Used for centuries to store grain, flour, and olive oil, these massive containers kept provisions safe from moisture, rodents, and insects.
Orcas were typically placed in the coolest part of the house. They represent an ingenious solution to food preservation before modern storage. Today, surviving orcas are valued as heritage objects in rural museums.