Anta de Pendilhe — Vila Nova de Paiva
Orca de Pendilhe · Dólmen de Pendilhe
Early–Middle Neolithic (c.3800–3200 BCE)·Northern Portuguese Megalithic (Beira Alta)·🇵🇹 Centro, Viseu, Vila Nova de Paiva, Queiriga/Pendilhe, Dão plateau, Portugal
About
About Anta de Pendilhe — Vila Nova de Paiva
Anta de Pendilhe (called Orca de Pendilhe, Neolithic c.3800–3200 BCE) is a classic Beira Alta polygonal dolmen on the Dão plateau near Vila Nova de Paiva, with seven granite uprights 3.5 m tall enclosing a 4-m chamber plus 8-m passage, originally under a 25-m round mound kerbed. Excavated by Morais 1870s and Leisner 1950s, it yielded polished stone axes, variscite beads and carinated pottery of the northern Portuguese megalithic. Overlooking the Queiriga tungsten valley, it anchors the Viseu–Beira antas cluster.
Why it mattersLargest Beira Alta dolmen; Leisner typology key anta.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Variscite beads source — Zamora or local?
Theories
- 01Plateau frontier dolmen marking pastoral territories
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.3600 BCE
- Period
- Early–Middle Neolithic (c.3800–3200 BCE)
- Culture
- Northern Portuguese Megalithic (Beira Alta)
- Builders
- Northern Portuguese Megalithic
- Purpose
- Collective dolmen burial with long passage
- Excavation
- Excavated
c.3600 BCE
Granite anta erected on Dão interfluve
c.3300 BCE
Collective use with Beira pottery and variscite
1878
A. Morais records; V. Leisner plans 1950s
1990
Classified Monumento Nacional; cleared
On the ground
Structures & features
40.8490° N · 7.7300° W · 779 m · 2 mapped features
Pendilhe Chamber — Seven Orthostats
chamber4-m polygonal chamber of seven 3.5-m granite uprights and displaced capstone
40.8495° N · 7.7295° WPendilhe Passage — 8-m Corridor
passage8-m low passage of paired granite slabs leading E to cairn edge, with threshold stone
40.8485° N · 7.7305° W