Dólmen da Orca, dolmen in Oliveira do Conde, Portugal
The Dólmen da Orca is a Neolithic burial site in Oliveira do Conde consisting of nine upright stones forming a chamber roughly 10 feet (3 meters) high, topped with a large capstone. An access corridor of fifteen stones with original covering slabs leads to the chamber, all built atop a mound about 65 feet (20 meters) in diameter.
The monument was built during the late Neolithic or early Calcolithic period around four thousand years ago. These structures served as burial chambers for early pastoral communities who relied on seasonal movements between the high mountains and river valleys.
The name may reference a local feature or animal from ancient times. Today, the site serves as a place where visitors can sense the spiritual connection that early communities had with their landscape and the movements of seasons.
The site is located outdoors in an open area and is best visited during good weather. Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring water, as there are no facilities on site.
Researchers discovered that the entrance alignment points toward the stars Betelgeuse and Aldebaran, which helped early herders mark the start of the grazing season. This astronomical knowledge may have even inspired the name Serra da Estrela (Star Mountain) and preserves evidence of ancient celestial observation.
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