Almendres — Western Menhir Gate Portal
Almendres West Gate
Late Neolithic to Early Bronze Age (3000–1800 BCE)·Late Neolithic Atlantic·🇵🇹 Alentejo, Évora, Nossa Senhora de Guadalupe, Portugal
Panegyrics of Granovetter from Toronto, Ontario, Canada · CC BY-SA 4.0
About
About Almendres — Western Menhir Gate Portal
Almendres — Western Menhir Gate Portal in Alentejo, Évora, Nossa Senhora de Guadalupe, Portugal is a Late Neolithic to Early Bronze Age (3000–1800 BCE) megalithic attributed to Late Neolithic Atlantic. Systematic survey and LiDAR document architectural phasing. The site includes a principal citadel and ancillary necropolis. Dimensions chamber 4.2 m × 2.8 m; mound 18 m diameter; area unmeasured ha. Excavation excavated; condition buried. Peer-reviewed reports and georeferenced plans available.
Why it mattersKey Late Neolithic Atlantic megalithic with stratified sequence and landscape setting at 350 m elevation.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Function and labor organization
- 02Chronology and phasing
Theories
- 01Ceremonial centre
- 02Elite residence hypothesis
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 3000–2500 BCE
- Period
- Late Neolithic to Early Bronze Age (3000–1800 BCE)
- Culture
- Late Neolithic Atlantic
- Purpose
- Ceremonial tomb and territorial marker
- Excavation
- Excavated
c. 3000–2500 BCE
Initial construction / foundation
c. 891 BCE
Major refurbishment / second phase
1922
Antiquarian record, modern excavation from 1960s
On the ground
Structures & features
38.5500° N · 8.0600° W · 350 m · 4 mapped features
- Principal ChamberchamberPrincipal Chamber at Almendres — Western Menhir Gate Portal — chamber with stratified deposits38.5512° N · 8.0613° W
- Peripheral Kerb SegmentkerbPeripheral Kerb Segment at Almendres — Western Menhir Gate Portal — kerb with stratified deposits38.5483° N · 8.0590° W
- Outlier Menhirstanding stoneOutlier Menhir at Almendres — Western Menhir Gate Portal — standing stone with stratified deposits38.5494° N · 8.0623° W
- Ancillary CairncairnAncillary Cairn at Almendres — Western Menhir Gate Portal — cairn with stratified deposits38.5498° N · 8.0615° W
Gallery