Antas do Barrocal, Neolithic dolmen in Nossa Senhora da Tourega, Portugal.
Anta da Herdade do Barrocal 1 is a megalithic tomb built with seven granite stones arranged to form a polygonal burial chamber. The chamber measures three meters across and stands 2.2 meters high, capped by a single massive stone that covers the entire opening.
This funerary monument was constructed between 3500 and 2000 BCE to serve as a burial place for Neolithic communities in the region. The site gained official protection in 1910 when it was designated a National Monument due to its archaeological importance.
The chamber aligns with the rising sun in the east and the setting sun in the west, revealing how Neolithic people understood and marked celestial cycles. Visitors walking through can observe this orientation and sense the connection these builders maintained with the sky.
The site is located on a gently sloping hillside near Évora and offers free access to anyone wishing to visit. Informational panels at the location explain the megalithic construction and help visitors understand how this monument was built and used.
Five of the original granite stones remain precisely positioned to support an intact capstone that protects the burial chamber beneath. This preservation allows visitors to see how the builders assembled such heavy stones with remarkable accuracy over 5000 years ago.
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