Antas of the Serra do Alvão

Category: Archaeology > Megalithic Monuments

District: Vila Real > Vila Pouca de Aguiar > Alvão

Location

The Antas da Serra do Alvão are located in a mountain area, near the Torno River, in the municipality of Vila Pouca de Aguiar. They are set within the vast natural landscape of the Serra do Alvão and are part of the Alvão Natural Park, a setting that offers a quiet environment and expansive views of the surroundings.

A Journey to the Roots of History

These ancient structures are remnants of a very remote past, dating back to the Megalithic period, likely around 2000 BC. They are funerary constructions, often called dolmens, which served as burial sites for the communities that inhabited this Trás-os-Montes region millennia ago. They bear witness to the beliefs and ritual practices of prehistoric peoples, offering a direct connection to a fundamental period in human history.

Due to its cultural and historical importance, the main cluster of these dolmens, known as Chã das Arcas, was classified as a Property of Public Interest in 1990.

The Architecture of Our Ancestors

What is seen today of the Antas da Serra do Alvão is mainly the Chã das Arcas cluster, although it is known that the site was originally a necropolis with many more monuments. Each dolmen was built with a mamoa, an artificial mound of earth and small stones that covered the burial chamber.

Although some have suffered the effects of time and human action, it is still possible to identify the large granite monoliths, known as orthostats, which made up the burial chambers. Some of these structures reveal a simple chamber, while others feature an access corridor, sometimes with a vestibule, demonstrating the complexity of these ancient constructions.

Testimonies of a Distant Past

Interest in the Antas da Serra do Alvão grew intensely at the end of the 19th century, when local researchers, including the priests José Rafael Rodrigues and José Brenha, carried out the first excavations. Although many monuments had been affected by agricultural activities and popular treasure hunting, these works made it possible to collect a remarkable set of artifacts.

Among the most important finds are engraved plaques, ceramic fragments, stone axes, arrowheads, and necklace beads. These objects are crucial elements for understanding the daily life, art, and rituals of the populations that inhabited this mountain range in Prehistory, providing a window into their way of life.

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