Despite being known to archaeologists since the 1940s, the first systematic excavations in Castelo Velho de Safara started in June 2018. Based on surface pottery evidence and material recovered from recent excavations, the site was dated from the Chalcolithic (3rd millennium BC), to the Late Iron Age (4th century BC), and the Roman Republican Period (1st century BC).

Thus far, excavations have exposed a street running parallel to the defensive wall. The latter has some orthogonal compartmental structures associated to its interior whose function is still uncertain, but it is most probably related to storage activities. On the opposite side of the street, a longitudinal structure was identified. It is better constructed and seems to be associated with a residential area. The residential area could be divided according to status, and evidence of metal working on site is confirmed. Castelo Velho de Safara might have served as a trading post with important connections to the nearby mines of copper and silver, and with manufactured products from the Eastern Mediterranean.