Category: Archaeology > Dolmen
District: Portalegre > Crato > Aldeia da Mata
It is a type of very ancient monument, built with large stones, known in archaeology as a dolmen or anta. It served for ceremonies and, mainly, as a burial site.
This megalithic monument dates from the Neolithic and Chalcolithic periods, meaning it is approximately between 4,000 and 6,000 years old. It is a very ancient trace of human occupation in this region.
The main function of antas was to serve as collective tombs. They were places where prehistoric communities buried their dead, and also possible sites for rituals related to life and death.
The Anta do Tapadão consists of a burial chamber, built with vertical stone slabs (known as orthostats), which would originally have been covered by a large horizontal slab (the capstone). The complete structure, including a possible access corridor to the chamber, would have been covered by an artificial mound of earth and stones, called a mamoa or tumulus. Nowadays, what is observed is the stone structure of the chamber and, sometimes, vestiges of the corridor.
The Anta do Tapadão is an important landmark in the region's cultural and historical landscape, representing a testament to prehistory. Due to its historical and scientific value, this monument is classified as a Property of Public Interest, which highlights its relevance and the need for preservation. It is part of a territory with several other megalithic monuments.
Visiting the Anta do Tapadão allows one to observe closely a millennial funerary structure and gain a sense of the magnitude of the constructions carried out by prehistoric communities. It is a place that invites contemplation and reflection on the long history of human presence in the area.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 39.300983099627636, -7.710977901542562
Coordinates DMS: 39°18'3.5"N 07°42'39.5"W
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