Category: Archaeology > Dolmen
District: Setúbal > Santiago do Cacém > Foros da Palhota
The Dolmen of Pedra Branca is situated within the picturesque landscape of the municipality of Santiago do Cacém, in the district of Setúbal, more specifically near the serene locality of Foros da Palhota. This ancient monument is set in a predominantly rural environment, characteristic of the Alentejo coast, where the tranquility and vastness of the fields provide a setting conducive to contemplation and historical immersion.
Its position in the landscape invites the discovery of a corner where human presence dates back to immemorial times, allowing visitors to experience the calm and natural beauty that surround this ancestral structure.
The Dolmen of Pedra Branca is a fascinating testament to the ingenuity and beliefs of the communities that inhabited this region thousands of years ago. This monumental structure dates back to the Prehistoric period, namely the Neolithic and Chalcolithic, between the 4th and 3rd millennia BCE. Built by ancient populations, it primarily served as a collective burial site, where the remains of community members were deposited, accompanied by offerings and rituals.
Its presence in the landscape is an invitation to reflect on the lives of our most distant ancestors, their practices, and how they interacted with the environment, leaving lasting marks that endure to this day.
Like other constructions of its kind, the Dolmen of Pedra Branca is a remarkable example of megalithic architecture. It consists of a burial chamber built with large vertical stone blocks, known as orthostats, which would have supported a considerably proportioned capstone. Although its current appearance may be altered due to the passage of time and the action of the elements, its original configuration would have included a "mamoa," a mound of earth and stones that would cover the entire structure, creating an artificial hill.
The designation "Pedra Branca" (White Stone) may suggest a particular chromatic feature of the rocks used in its construction, or perhaps a symbolic characteristic attributed by the communities that erected it. The construction of these imposing structures reveals not only a great collective effort but also a profound understanding of space and a complex vision of the world, life, and death on the part of their builders.
A visit to the Dolmen of Pedra Branca offers a unique opportunity for visitors to connect intimately with history and nature. Situated in a tranquil and preserved environment, the monument invites a pause, allowing appreciation of the vastness and serenity of the surrounding landscape, which has remained essentially unaltered since the time it was erected.
It is a place where past and present meet, providing an experience of contemplation on the passage of time and the persistence of these monumental human creations in the Portuguese landscape.
Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolmen_of_Pedra_Branca
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 38.11312168038751,-8.724263703457611
Coordinates DMS: 38°06'47.2"N 08°43'27.3"W
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