Monuments of Alcalar or Prehistoric Ensemble of Alcalar

Category: Archaeology > Megalithic Monuments

District: Faro > Portimão > Alcalar > Cabeço Esteves

Location:

The archaeological site of Alcalar is located in Cabeço Esteves, in the parish of Mexilhoeira Grande, municipality of Portimão, approximately 9 km from the centre of Portimão.

It is situated on a hill overlooking the Ria de Alvor, surrounded by a landscape of heathland and cork oaks, with the Serra de Monchique to the north and Lagos Bay to the south.

Origin and Historical Value

This necropolis complex belongs to the Chalcolithic period, having been built by a community that occupied the area between the 3rd and 2nd millennium BC. The discovery of the remains occurred at the end of the 19th century and, since then, the site has been the subject of successive research campaigns.

Classified as a National Monument, the Alcalar site bears witness to the development of complex funerary practices and the circulation of exotic materials, such as adornments in ivory, amber, copper, and gold.

Architecture and Remains

The complex includes nearly twenty megalithic tombs, erected in sandstone and organized into groups. Two of the largest, designated as Monuments 7 and 9, feature chambers and corridors built with large limestone slabs, covered by circular mounds.

Inside these structures, skeletons of high-status individuals were found, accompanied by objects of symbolic value. One of the most notable pieces is the oculated idol, a stone cylinder engraved with two eyes.

Environment and Photo Spot

The site offers a tranquil environment, marked by the contrast between the reddish granite of the tombs and the dark green of the surrounding vegetation. The top of the hill is an excellent spot to photograph the profile of the monuments, framed by the line of the estuary in the background.

Nearby, the 18th-century lime kiln adds a note of historical continuity, reinforcing the rural and timeless character of this prehistoric corner.

Sources: https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monumentos_Megalíticos_de_Alcalar

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