Vale Maria do Meio Cromlech

Category: Archaeology > Ensemble

District: Évora > Évora > Valeira

Location

Situated in the locality of Valeira, within the municipality of Évora, the Cromeleque de Vale Maria do Meio emerges in a typical Alentejo countryside landscape. This location offers a tranquil refuge, isolated on the Herdade de Vale de Maria do Meio, where the presence of holm oaks and the silence invite a serene and contemplative pause.

Its rural location, often with low visitor numbers, helps preserve an authentic atmosphere, allowing visitors to feel the vastness of the Alentejo and a direct connection with the surrounding nature.

A Legacy from the Neolithic

The Cromeleque de Vale Maria do Meio represents one of the most significant megalithic monuments in the Évora region. Erected in the Megalithic Period, between 6000 and 5000 BC, this collection of stones is a grand testament to the neolithization of the Alentejo interior, offering a window into the practices and beliefs of the peoples who inhabited this land millennia ago.

Its original function is generally interpreted as religious, serving as a ritualistic alignment. The presence of these structures dates back to an era when humans were beginning to settle and organize themselves, marking the landscape with purposes that still evoke fascination and questions today.

The Arrangement of Ancient Stones

This stone circle is composed of a total of thirty-four menhirs of varying dimensions, arranged in an elongated plan that extends from west to east. Some of the menhirs stand out for their impressiveness, reaching about two meters in height and situated at the highest point of the enclosure.

Particularly interesting are the inscriptions present on some of the stone blocks. Two of the menhirs display engraved motifs such as the crook and the moon, while a third features a quadrilateral. These symbols offer clues about the symbolism and cosmology of its builders, suggesting a possible connection with lunar observations and celestial cycles, revealing a profound knowledge of the natural world on the part of ancient communities.

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