Megalithic Monuments of Alcalar

Category: Nature > Park

District: Faro > Portimão > Alcalar

Location

The Megalithic Monuments of Alcalar are located in the rural interior of the municipality of Portimão, in the locality of Alcalar. The site is situated on an elevation that offers a wide view of the surrounding landscape. This strategic position was fundamental in antiquity for the community that settled here, allowing them to observe and protect their territory, which once benefited from great natural richness, with watercourses and fertile areas.

The location, in a tranquil and natural environment, invites reflection on the vastness of time and human history, providing an experience of direct contact with a very distant past.

An Ancient Community

About five thousand years ago, during the period known as the Chalcolithic, an important prehistoric community flourished in this region. The remains we observe today in Alcalar are a testament to their way of life, from their settlement to their complex necropolis. This place was the center of a society that developed activities such as agriculture, pastoralism, and hunting, taking advantage of natural resources to sustain its existence and prosperity.

By exploring the monuments, we can imagine the daily lives of these peoples and their beliefs, delving into a fundamental chapter of the history of the Algarve and the Iberian Peninsula.

The Imposing Funerary Structures

The Megalithic Monuments of Alcalar are, in essence, a set of tombs that form a necropolis. The tholoi stand out, which are funerary structures characterized by a chamber covered by a false dome, accessible through a corridor. These are typically surrounded by a mamoa, an artificial mound of stones or earth.

Among the various monuments, Monument 7 and Monument 9, the best preserved and most accessible, are particularly noteworthy. Monument 7, in particular, impresses with its size, with a large stone mound reaching about twenty-seven meters in diameter and a narrow corridor leading to a domed chamber. These constructions, made with large stone blocks, were intended for collective burials, particularly of the most influential individuals of the community, as inferred from the valuable objects found inside.

A Millennial Legacy

Classified as a National Monument, the Megalithic Monuments of Alcalar represent one of the most important archaeological sites in the Algarve. Their importance lies not only in the monumentality of the funerary structures but also in the richness of the recovered artifacts, which offer a valuable perspective on the social and ritual practices and the organization of this prehistoric society.

Research and conservation efforts over the decades have allowed for a better understanding of how this community lived, worked, and dealt with death, making this place a privileged space for the discovery and knowledge of our most remote past.

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