Dolmen of Monte Serves

Category: Archaeology > Dolmen

District: Lisboa > Vila Franca de Xira > Vialonga > Quinta da Flamenga

Location

The Dolmen of Monte Serves is located in Vialonga, in the municipality of Vila Franca de Xira, within the area known as Quinta da Flamenga. This prehistoric monument is situated on a small plateau, on the slope of Monte Serves, offering a wide view over the surrounding landscape.

Its elevated position allows for a distant view of the Tagus River estuary and the silhouette of the Vasco da Gama Bridge, an interesting contrast between the antiquity of the dolmen and the modernity of the infrastructure. The area, although close to more urbanized zones, maintains a character of rural tranquility.

A Megalithic Testament

The Dolmen of Monte Serves is a remarkable remnant from the Late Neolithic or Chalcolithic period, dating back to the third millennium BCE, meaning over five thousand years ago. This megalithic funerary monument served as a burial site for the communities that inhabited the region during that distant era.

Its discovery and the first archaeological excavations occurred in 1972, revealing the importance of this site for understanding funerary practices and prehistoric human presence in Portuguese Estremadura. Subsequent archaeological works, carried out in 2014, deepened the knowledge about its structure and chronology.

The Ancient Structure

This dolmen, classified as a megalithic monument, is characterized by being a small sepulchre. Its funerary chamber has a sub-trapezoidal plan, built with robust limestone slabs. Although the access corridor is short or ill-defined, it is presumed that the original structure might have included a false dome cover.

Archaeological studies allowed for the identification of remains of a tumulus, the earthen mound that originally covered the dolmen, and which complemented its architecture. The presence of scarce human bone remains was fundamental for radiocarbon dating, which confirmed its use in remote times.

The Surrounding Landscape

Visiting the Dolmen of Monte Serves offers an opportunity for connection with history in an environment of serenity. Its location on the slope of Monte Serves provides a sense of calm, allowing visitors to enjoy the wind blowing through the vegetation and the tranquility of the site.

The landscape setting is a point of interest, with views extending over valleys and hills to the horizon, where the urban landscape mixes with the natural. The occasional sound of planes taking off from Lisbon adds a layer of modernity to this timeless scene, evoking the long continuity of human presence in the region.

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