Dolmens of Herdade do Freixo

Category: Archaeology > Dolmen

District: Évora > Évora > Évora

Location

Located in the heart of the Alentejo landscape, the Dolmens of Herdade do Freixo are immersed in the tranquility of the fields within the municipality of Évora. The site offers an atmosphere of serenity, typical of the Alentejo rural environment, where the vastness of the horizon meets the centuries-old presence of cork oaks and holm oaks. Its position, set within agricultural land, allows visitors to immerse themselves in the genuine natural and cultural surroundings of the region.

Ancient Memory and Megalithic Construction

These dolmens are a silent testament to a distant era, representing megalithic funerary monuments erected millennia ago by Neolithic communities. Their construction, the result of remarkable collective effort and ingenuity, involved the transportation and placement of enormous stone blocks, known as orthostats, which formed the funerary chamber and, in some cases, an access corridor. These structures were then covered by a large slab, the capstone, and often enveloped by an artificial mound of earth and small stones, the tumulus, which today is more or less eroded by time.

The Natural Setting

A visit to the Dolmens of Herdade do Freixo allows for a deep connection with the surrounding nature. The monument is integrated into a characteristic Alentejo ecosystem, where spontaneous vegetation and native trees, such as the emblematic cork oaks and holm oaks, punctuate the landscape. This natural setting contributes to the mystical atmosphere of the site, inviting contemplation and an understanding of how these structures were conceived to harmonize with their natural environment.

A Legacy Through Time

The presence of these dolmens is an invitation to reflect on the beliefs and rituals of the prehistoric populations that inhabited this region. They represent not only burial sites but also centers of worship and community gathering, revealing the social and spiritual complexity of our ancestors. They remain a lasting legacy, a window into a remote past that continues to awaken curiosity and respect for the history of humanity in Portuguese territory.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt