Category: Civil Architecture > Museum
District: Viseu > Viseu > Rio de Loba > AAE de Sernada
The Dolmen of Mamaltar do Vale de Fachas is located in a rural and natural setting, in the locality of Rio de Loba, in the municipality of Viseu. Rising on an artificial elevation known as a mamoa, it is surrounded by a pine forest landscape, offering a tranquil environment suitable for those who appreciate contact with nature and outdoor history. Its integration into the Viseu Municipality's Pedestrian Trails Network suggests an appropriate setting for a visit that combines archaeological interest with a stroll in a natural context.
This ancient megalithic monument, dated from approximately 2900 BC to 2640 BC, is a remarkable testament to the prehistoric communities that inhabited the region. Also known as Anta do Altar, the Dolmen of Mamaltar do Vale de Fachas holds unique importance in Portuguese archaeology. In 1910, it was distinguished with the classification of National Monument, a recognition that made it the only dolmen in the Viseu municipality to bear such a distinction. This classification was due, in part, to the fact that it was one of the first megalithic monuments in Portugal to be subjected to archaeological intervention, right at the beginning of the 20th century.
The Dolmen of Mamaltar do Vale de Fachas is a typical example of the passage graves of Beira Alta. Its structure consists of a polygonal funerary chamber, supported by nine large granite orthostats, with dimensions reaching approximately 3.4 meters in width, 2.45 meters in length, and 2.2 meters in height. This chamber is accessed via a long corridor, formed by ten orthostats on each side, which extends for approximately 8.65 meters in length and reaches 1.5 meters in height.
The monument is covered by a mamoa, an artificially constructed mound of earth and stones, which remains well-preserved, measuring about 22 meters North-South and 24 meters East-West, rising to 2.5 meters in height. Despite the passage of time, it is still possible to glimpse faint traces of paintings in black and red on some of the orthostats, revealing rare artistic details from that era.
The discovery of the dolmen in 1911 and its subsequent archaeological exploration in 1912 by the Viseu archaeologist José Coelho were crucial moments for the study of local and national prehistory. José Coelho's work allowed for the collection of a valuable set of artifacts that, in their diversity, provide information about the funerary practices and daily life of these ancestral communities. Among the finds were ceramic pieces, polished stone tools, arrowheads, and, notably, a schist idol-plaque that once displayed vibrant red paintings, underscoring the cultural and symbolic significance of the site for its builders.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 40.6795091,-7.850627
Coordinates DMS: 40°40'46.2"N 07°51'2.3"W
Weather Rio de Loba
On-duty Pharmacy Rio de Loba
