Monte Abraão Tapir

Category: Archaeology > Dolmen

District: Lisboa > Sintra > Monte Abraão > Massamá

Location

The Anta do Monte Abraão is located in the town of Monte Abraão, which is part of the union of parishes of Massamá and Monte Abraão, in the municipality of Sintra. This megalithic monument is situated in a predominantly urban environment, marking the landscape with its historical presence. Its location allows for direct contact with the region's millennial past, even while integrated into the area's modern life.

A Megalithic Legacy

This imposing dolmen is a prehistoric construction estimated to date from the Neolithic period, a period between 4000 and 2500 BC. The Anta do Monte Abraão was conceived as a collective burial chamber, bearing witness to the burial rituals and beliefs of the communities that inhabited this area thousands of years ago. Archaeological investigations suggest that the site served as a tomb for approximately eighty individuals, revealing its importance as a necropolis.

The anta's relevance to national heritage was formally recognized with its classification as a National Monument in 1910.

Details of an Ancestral Construction

The architecture of the Anta do Monte Abraão is characterized by a polygonal chamber, approximately 3.6 meters in diameter, built on natural rock. This chamber is accessed via a corridor, which extends for approximately 8 meters in length and 2 meters in width, oriented towards the east. The stones used in the construction are limestone orthostats, some of which still remain in their original position.

During excavations carried out in the 19th century, numerous objects comprising the funerary collection were discovered. Among them, notable finds include stone axes, flint tools and blades, arrowheads, maceheads, ceramics and clay vessels, as well as various ornamental items. These findings, which enrich our understanding of Neolithic life, are currently on display at the Portuguese Geological Museum in Lisbon.

A Look at the Present

The Anta do Monte Abraão represents a point of interest that invites a pause to contemplate the passage of time and the profound history that this site encompasses. Its current configuration, marked by natural wear and interventions over the centuries, gives it an aura of authenticity. Visiting this dolmen offers a unique opportunity to connect with a distant past, where the stone stands as an eloquent silence of collective memory.

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