Cromeleque dos Almendres

Category: Archaeology > Cromlech

District: Évora > Évora > Évora

Location

The Almendres Cromlech is immersed in the Alentejo landscape, a few kilometers west of the historic city of Évora. Situated in the Herdade dos Almendres, this site offers a tranquil and rural environment, on a gentle slope that provides an encompassing view of the natural surroundings. Its elevated position, at about 413 meters above sea level, contributes to a sense of vastness and connection with the typical countryside of the region.

An Ancestral Testimony

This remarkable megalithic monument is one of the most important of its kind in the Iberian Peninsula and on the European continent, standing out for both its impressive dimensions and its notable state of conservation. Built about seven thousand years ago, between the late 6th and early 3rd millennia BC, the cromlech testifies to the ingenuity of prehistoric communities.

It was rediscovered in 1964, and since then, several archaeological campaigns have allowed the repositioning of a large part of its menhirs in their original locations, revealing the complexity of its design. Its importance is recognized by its classification as a National Monument, granted in 1910.

The Menhirs and Their Organization

The cromlech is a collection of about 95 granite menhirs, arranged in a roughly circular or elliptical formation that extends over a vast area. The stones vary in size and shape; ovoid or sub-cylindrical forms predominate, but some reach considerable heights, between 2.5 and 3 meters, sometimes displaying shapes that refer to phallic or stellar elements.

These menhirs, made of different types of quartz diorites, were carefully erected on prepared cavities in the ground, with a base of smaller stones to provide stability and ensure their longevity.

Meaning, Rituals, and Art

The true function of the Almendres Cromlech remains a mystery, although it is believed to have been associated with astronomical observations and sacred rituals, with particular attention to the sunrise during solstices and equinoxes. This site was undoubtedly a place of great symbolic and religious significance for the Stone Age communities.

One of the most notable features are the decorations found on ten of the menhirs. These engravings and reliefs include "cupules" (small holes), sinuous and radial lines, and, in some cases, shapes that can be interpreted as snakes or human figures, offering a glimpse into the art and beliefs of the people who lived here.

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