Great Dolmen of Comenda da Igreja

Category: Archaeology > Dolmen

District: Évora > Montemor-o-Novo > São Geraldo > Comenda da Igreja

Location

This imposing prehistoric construction is located in the area of Comenda da Igreja, near the village of São Geraldo, in the municipality of Montemor-o-Novo. It is nestled within a rural Alentejo landscape, characteristic of plains, often dotted with forested areas and with the nearby presence of the Lavre Stream. Its elevated position on a hill grants it significant visibility in the surroundings.

A Millennia-Old Vestige

The Anta Grande da Comenda da Igreja dates back to a very distant period of prehistory, falling between the Late Neolithic and the Chalcolithic, approximately between the 4th and mid-3rd millennia BC. It was erected and used by communities that inhabited this Alentejo region thousands of years ago, serving primarily as a collective burial site and, possibly, for rituals. This monument has been classified as a National Monument since 1936, recognizing its exceptional archaeological and historical importance.

Features of the Ancient Construction

This dolmen stands out for its remarkable dimensions. It comprises a polygonal central chamber, built with eight large vertical granite orthostats, some reaching about six meters in height. Originally, this chamber would have been covered by a massive slab, unfortunately fragmented today. A rectangular corridor, approximately ten to eleven meters long and lower (about 1.80m to 2m in height), connects the exterior to the chamber, and is still well-preserved.

Traces of the earth and stone mound, known as a tumulus or mamoa, which once entirely covered the dolmen, are still visible around the structure, providing an idea of its original appearance and the imposing presence it would have had in the landscape at the time of its construction.

Testimonies of Daily Life and Ritual

Archaeological excavations carried out at the Anta Grande da Comenda da Igreja revealed a diverse collection of artifacts left by the communities that used it. Among these findings are tools made of chipped and polished stone, ceramic pieces of different forms, and personal adornment items such as necklace beads, bone pins, and pendants made of various materials, including green stones and amber. Of particular interest are the engraved slate plaques, which offer clues about the symbolism and rituals practiced at that time.

These material remains, now preserved in museums, allow archaeologists and visitors to the site to imagine a little about the way of life, techniques, and beliefs of the people who inhabited this region thousands of years ago and chose this monument for their burials and funerary practices.

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