Category: Archaeology > Dolmen
District: Évora > Montemor-o-Novo > São Geraldo
Anta do Paço II is located in the rural area near the village of São Geraldo, in the municipality of Montemor-o-Novo. It is set within a typical Alentejo landscape, characterized by wide horizons and low-lying vegetation, inviting tranquility and observation of the natural environment. Its slightly inclined position on the plain gives it a harmonious integration with the surrounding terrain.
This megalithic monument transports visitors to a remote past, dating from the Neo-Chalcolithic period, somewhere between 4000 and 3000 BC. It represents one of the vestiges of the first sedentary communities that inhabited this region. Its original function was that of a collective tomb, serving as a burial site for the groups who built and used it over centuries.
Anta do Paço II is a monumental construction composed of a chamber and a corridor, erected with large stone blocks, referred to as orthostats. The chamber is delimited by seven orthostats that remain in their original position. The corridor, approximately 4.90 meters long, was flanked by orthostats, and still preserves three of the massive slabs that would have formed its roof. These stones, made of coarse-grained granite, demonstrate the technical and organizational capabilities of these prehistoric societies.
Due to its historical and architectural importance, Anta do Paço II has been classified as a National Monument since 1936. This classification recognizes its value as an integral part of Portuguese cultural heritage and ensures its protection. Historically, it is often referred to and classified together with Anta do Paço I, under the generic designation of "Antas Grandes do Paço" (Great Dolmens of Paço), evidencing the existence of a megalithic complex in the area. The monument is currently in a state of conservation considered regular.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 38.771252141416205, -8.218737258081166
Coordinates DMS: 38°46'16.5"N 08°13'7.5"W
On-duty Pharmacy São Geraldo
