Menhir of Barrocal

Category: Archaeology > Menhir

District: Évora > Reguengos de Monsaraz > Monsaraz > Barrocal

Location

The Barrocal Menhir stands in a rural area, on the Herdade do Barrocal estate, part of the locality of Monsaraz, in the municipality of Reguengos de Monsaraz. It is situated on a slight elevation, at about 200 meters of altitude, and although integrated into a rural habitation zone, it offers a tranquil setting characteristic of the Alentejo landscape. Its position, relatively close to the historic village of Monsaraz, places it within a vast and open scenery.

A Window to Prehistory

This imposing monolithic monument dates back to very remote prehistoric periods, its erection being attributed to the Early or Middle Neolithic, sometime in the 5th millennium BC. However, its significance endured for many centuries, with evidence of use up to the Bronze Age. The menhir was rediscovered fallen in 1993 and, after archaeological studies that allowed its original base to be identified, it was carefully re-erected. Today, it once again occupies its prominent position in the landscape, inviting contemplation of the past.

A Monolith of Remarkable Dimensions

The Barrocal Menhir is an impressive specimen, standing out as one of the largest prehistoric monoliths on the Iberian Peninsula. Approximately 5.72 meters tall, it was carved from a large block of granodiorite, exhibiting a slightly flattened ovoid shape. One of its most distinctive features are the engravings that adorn its faces. Although not easily visible to the naked eye today, studies reveal a complex network of motifs engraved by percussion, including wavy lines, zigzags, circles, some cup-marks, and the representation of a crozier. These decorations were added in different epochs, testifying to the prolonged importance of the site for ancient communities.

Symbolism and the Ancestral Landscape

This majestic menhir was not just an isolated stone in the landscape; its presence symbolically marked this point, probably as a place of gathering, celebration, or reference for ancestral communities. Archaeologists suggest that these large monoliths might have been part of broader alignments, possibly with orientations related to astronomical phenomena. A visit to the Barrocal Menhir offers a unique opportunity to connect with the most remote history of the Alentejo, where, in the silence and vastness of the countryside, it is possible to reflect on the culture and profound connection of ancient peoples to nature.

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