Melriça Dolmen

Category: Archaeology > Dolmen

District: Portalegre > Castelo de Vide > Santiago Maior

Location

The Melriça Dolmen is serenely situated in the heart of the Alentejo landscape, near the locality of Santiago Maior, in the municipality of Castelo de Vide, district of Portalegre. Located in a rural and tranquil environment, its surroundings are characterized by vast fields, with the scattered presence of cork oaks and olive trees, typical elements of the local vegetation. The scenery provides an atmosphere of isolation and contemplation, inviting reflection on the antiquity of the site and its harmonious integration into the surrounding nature.

Ancestral Megalithic Monument

The Melriça Dolmen is a remarkable testament to human presence and its funerary beliefs in ancient times. This megalithic monument dates back to the Late Neolithic or Chalcolithic periods, representing a type of monumental funerary architecture that served as a collective burial chamber. Erected millennia ago, it offers a unique opportunity to connect with the practices and ingenuity of the prehistoric communities that inhabited this region of Alto Alentejo.

Structure and Materials

The structure of the Melriça Dolmen is composed of a polygonal chamber, characteristic of the typology of megalithic monuments in the area. The chamber is defined by several orthostats, large granite blocks arranged vertically, which would have originally supported a massive capstone. Although the mound of earth and stones (mamoa or tumulus) that almost entirely covered it is now considerably dismantled, the chamber and the remains of an access corridor are still visible. The robustness of the local granite, the main material of its construction, is a determining factor in its notable preservation over millennia.

Meaning and Contemplation

Visiting the Melriça Dolmen allows for an immersion into a distant past, inviting one to imagine the rituals and lives of the communities that deposited their dead here. This site is not just a stone structure, but a direct link to the origins of civilization in the Iberian Peninsula, reflecting the social complexity and spirituality of our ancestors. The tranquility of the environment, combined with the imposing nature of the stones, provides a moment of introspection and admiration for the human capacity to leave such lasting marks on the landscape.

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