Vale do Beiró Dolmen

Category: Archaeology > Dolmen

District: Santarém > Coruche > Couço > Herdade da Água Doce

Location:

The Anta do Vale do Beiró is located in the area known as Herdade da Água Doce, near the village of Couço, within the municipality of Coruche. It is situated in a geographical transition area, in a portion of the Santarém district that extends towards the Évora district. The monument is located next to National Road 2, accessible from the roadside, set within the rural Alentejo landscape.

Testimony of Prehistory:

This megalithic monument represents a landmark of human occupation in the region about 5000 years ago, dating back to the 3rd millennium BC. The Anta do Vale do Beiró is a type of collective tomb, built by the communities of that era for funerary and ritual purposes. Its existence offers a fascinating window into the beliefs and practices of our most remote ancestors.

Structure and Architecture:

The dolmen is composed of a polygonal chamber, originally formed by seven large vertical slabs (orthostats), of which five are still standing. The structure also includes remnants of an access corridor, oriented to the east, which extended for approximately 2.4 meters. Externally, traces of the "mamoa" are still visible, the artificial mound of earth and stones that would have covered the dolmen, possibly enhanced with granite blocks and milky quartz to stand out in the landscape. The chamber is about 2.5 meters in diameter and reaches a height of approximately 2.7 meters.

Archaeological Findings:

The excavations carried out at this site in 1931 by Manuel Heleno were particularly rich in discoveries. A total of 204 pieces were recovered, some complete and others fragmented, dating from the period when the dolmen was in use. Among the findings were several slate plaques and a sandstone plaque, which would have been votive or symbolic elements, as well as complete ceramic vessels, stone beads and pendants, axes, and other stone tools. The quantity and variety of artifacts found at Anta do Vale do Beiró highlight the importance of this monument within its group's context.

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