Alcalar Megalithic Site

Category: Civil Architecture > Museum

District: Faro > Portimão > Alcalar > Vale da Arrancada

Location

The Megalithic Site of Alcalar is situated in the picturesque Vale da Arrancada, in the locality of Alcalar, an integral part of the municipality of Portimão, in the district of Faro. Its position offers immersion in a rural and tranquil environment, characteristic of the Algarve hinterland, allowing visitors a direct connection with the natural landscape that surrounded ancestral communities.

Megalithic Legacy

This remarkable archaeological complex is a monumental testament to a prehistoric necropolis, dating back to the Chalcolithic period, around 4500 to 5000 years ago. It comprises an impressive set of tholos tombs and other collective funerary structures, which reveal the sophisticated ritual and social practices of the communities that inhabited this region. These are vestiges of an era when the dead were venerated and their place in the landscape marked by grandiose stone constructions.

Ancestral Engineering and Symbolism

The architecture present at the Alcalar Site is a notable example of ancestral engineering. The tombs were built with large stone blocks, the megaliths, which formed burial chambers and long access corridors. These structures were then covered by mounds of earth and stone, known as mamoas or tumuli, creating artificial elevations in the landscape. Each stone placed represented not only immense physical effort but also a profound symbolic meaning, linking earthly life to the world of ancestors and the cosmos.

A Site for Study and Contemplation

Alcalar constitutes a privileged space for understanding the prehistory of Southern Portugal. It is a site of continuous archaeological study, offering visitors a unique opportunity to come into direct contact with the evidence of an ancient civilization. The visit allows for deep reflection on the life, death, and beliefs of the first inhabitants of this land, in an environment that invites contemplation of history and its profound connection to the territory.

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