Stone of the Moors Tapir

Category: Archaeology > Dolmen

District: Lisboa > Sintra > Idanha > Quinta da Portela

Location

The Anta da Pedra dos Mouros is located in the town of Idanha, within the Quinta da Portela urbanization, in the municipality of Sintra. Its position in this area, which combines residential spaces with some vegetation, offers an interesting perspective on the presence of prehistoric remains in modern contexts. Close to important road infrastructures, such as the A9 motorway, the anta stands out as a point of interest that contrasts with the contemporary pace of the region.

A Glimpse into the More Remote Past

This megalithic dolmen, also known as Anta do Senhor da Serra, is a testament to human presence in Portugal thousands of years ago. Its construction dates back to the late Neolithic and early Chalcolithic periods, between 4000 and 2500 BC. Originally conceived as a funerary chamber, the anta served as a collective tomb where prehistoric communities buried their dead, revealing complex ritual practices.

The Structure and Its Remains

Although time and human action have altered its original form, the Anta da Pedra dos Mouros still retains parts of its imposing structure today. It is possible to observe large stone uprights, some of them tilted, attesting to the monumentality of its construction. On one of the remaining uprights, traces of anthropomorphic rock carvings can still be distinguished, representing human figures, a rare detail that directly connects visitors to the artists of the distant past.

Excavations carried out on the site, notably by Carlos Ribeiro in the 19th century, revealed a collection of objects that are now housed in the Geological Museum of Lisbon. Among the findings were flint tools, stone axes, domestic utensils, pottery, and human and animal bone remains, offering a window into the daily life and beliefs of the communities that lived here.

History and Enduring Legacy

The Anta da Pedra dos Mouros was classified as a National Monument in 1910, recognizing its importance to Portuguese heritage. Over the centuries, this site acquired a remarkable symbolic dimension, becoming, for a long time, a point of pilgrimage for the local population. An ancient popular belief associated the anta with fertility, leading newlywed women to slide down the surface of the dominant stone in the hope of conceiving.

However, the dolmen's more recent history includes significant damage, observed in 2010, which altered its configuration, highlighting the challenges of preserving such ancient heritage in urbanized areas.

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