Positive Evolution

Around Evora, Portugal

 

 

There are many dolmens and standing stones in this area of Portugal, firstly on our way to Almendres we stopped at the Menhir de Almendres, a standing stone.

 

The Almendres Menhir (Menhir de Almendres) is single standing stone near Evora in Portugal dating from 5000-4000 BC. Standing about 4 meters high, it has some faint markings near the top. It is aligned with the nearby Almendres Cromlech roughly towards the sunrise on the winter solstice. Local legend has it that the menhir is the tomb of an enchanted Moorish princess, who can be seen combing her hair once each year on the eve of São João.

 

Next was Anta Grande do Zambujeiro, considered one of the biggest such structures in the Iberian Peninsula this is worth a visit for the Wow factor of its size. Research has dated this dolmen structure to between 4000-3000 B.C., concurrent with the megalithic construction associated with the region of Évora. In 1965, there were archaeological excavations completed by Henrique Leonor Pina, resulting in the discovery of a number of artefacts that were transferred to the museum of Évora. These excavations unearthed slate tablets, necklaces, crosiers, copper objects, ceramics and carinated bowls.

 

We then went onto Anta Capela de São Brissos, a Dolmen that has been converted into a chapel. Anta Capela de São Brissos was built between the IV and the III millennium BC. The tapir is now transformed into a small chapel, dating from the seventeenth century and is therefore also known as Anta of Our Lady of Deliverance or Dolmen-Chapel of Our Lady of Deliverance. The Dolmen-Chapel incorporates three of the original props, as part of the original camera coverage. The opening facing the east was covered.
 

We also found another group of stones but have no idea what it is called as there were no signs! If you go to Evora go to the tourist information centre and pick up a handy map showing all the local sites.