Category: Archaeology > Dolmen
District: Portalegre > Elvas > Elvas > Assunção, Ajuda, Salvador e Santo Ildefonso
The Anta do Monte Ruivo is serenely situated in the Alentejo landscape, on the outskirts of the city of Elvas, in the district of Portalegre. Located in the civil parish of Assunção, Ajuda, Salvador e Santo Ildefonso, this megalithic structure emerges from a predominantly rural environment, marked by the vast expanse of fields and, at times, the subtle presence of olive groves or cork oak forests. Its position invites an experience of tranquility and an immersion in the natural scenery that surrounds it, far from the urban hustle and bustle.
This imposing stone monument is a silent testament to a distant era, dating back to the Neolithic period, somewhere between the 4th and 3rd millennia BC. The Anta do Monte Ruivo primarily served as a collective burial site, a repository for the remains of communities that inhabited these lands thousands of years ago. It represents an important landmark in understanding the funerary practices, beliefs, and social organization of the prehistoric peoples who chose this site to honor their ancestors.
The structure of the Anta do Monte Ruivo is a remarkable example of megalithic engineering. It is characterized by its chamber, usually polygonal or circular in plan, built with large vertical stone slabs, known as orthostats, carefully arranged to form the interior space. These massive slabs support a capstone, or lid, of considerable dimensions. Although often deprived of its original earthen mound (the mamoa or tumulus), its imposing presence continues to impress, revealing the extraordinary ability of Stone Age builders to move and erect elements of great weight.
A visit to the Anta do Monte Ruivo offers a unique opportunity to connect with an invaluable archaeological heritage. It is a place that invites reflection on the ancestral connection of human beings to the earth and the passage of time, set in a natural environment that amplifies its aura of mystery and antiquity. Its preservation is crucial to keep alive the memory of the civilizations that shaped the Alentejo territory long before written history.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 38.80222787357109,-7.18761780972293
Coordinates DMS: 38°48'8.0"N 07°11'15.4"W
Weather Elvas
On-duty Pharmacy Elvas
