Half day through the rich and unexplored stone age

Take on a challenge through the unseen and unexplored side of Alentejo and travel through time, to the ancient civilizations of the stone age.

"Alentejo is far less explored than you may think. Major national monuments like some of the most important highlight you will see below were just discovered 60 to 70 years ago"

Half day through the rich and unexplored stone age in Portugal

Alentejo is far less explored than you may think. Major national monuments like some of the most important highlight you will see below were just discovered 60 to 70 years ago. It is believed that far more remains to be unraveled.

According to the Tourism office in Evora it is estimated that about 450 civilizations occupied the territory at some point, based on 100 Menhirs and 800 Dolmens may exist, some of them lost under vegetation or hidden in private properties.

This means Alentejo is one of the key territories in Europe for Megalith monuments alongside Brittany. It also means that this territory was densely populated in the VI century BC, and likely to be more populated than it is now, leaving behind substantial evidence of the beginnings of sedentary populations and first farming activities.

You will also be able to find a legacy from the Paleolhitc in Gruta Santiago do Escoural (cave).

The following highlights will take you on a half day tour, if you stay for about 45 min for each of the stops:

Cromeleque de Vale de Maria do Meio (Neolitic - VI century BC)

Although not as impressive as cromeleque dos almendres, this cromeleque will give you a bigger sense of adventure and discovery, because it is a bit more untouched but also because it is harder to find. This monument is definitely not “touristy” and it is located in the middle of a private property. It hasn’t been subject to the same academic scrutiny as cromeleque dos almendres, which is likely to be explained by the lack of funding to Archaeology in Portugal.

Gruta santiago escoural (Paleolithic 50000- 10000 BC)

This cave is a testimony to the cave living lifestyle where neanderthals would group for shelter before going out for a hunt. The existing drawings on the walls go back to hunting scenes and representation of animals involved.

To visit this cave please book a few days before through: +351 266 857 000 or grutadoescoural@cultura-alentejo.pt

It’s a guided visit and it’s much more supported by directions when you approach the location, but also information of interest when you get there.

Cromeleque dos almendres (Neolitic - VI century BC)

Cromeleque dos Almendres it is believed to have been built 2 thousand years before Stonehenge. It was only discovered in 1964 because it was completely hidden below vegetation. It is an astonishing achievement if you think of the means available back then to move rocks (called Menhirs) with the portions that you will find. The meaning of the cromeleque, a little bit like Stonehenge, it’s still up for debate.

Some of the Menhirs have marks on them:

Menhir 48: it has a small anthropomorphic figure associated to a báculo - sticks that were used to direct cattle.

Menhir 57: it has a series of 13 reliefs in the form of báculos - sticks that were used to direct cattle. They are also visible in other Menhirs and they are likely to be representations of social prestige, built in schist and perishable materials.

Menhir 56: you can find a representation of a big human face, with a nose, eyes and mouth.

Menhir 76: it contains an anthropomorphic figure, like Menhir 56. Both resemble the decoration of Cromeleque da Portal de Mogos.

Menhir 64: located close to the center of the major ring, it displays reliefs in the form of rackets and circles

Menhir 58: it has 3 representations of solar discs, together with waved lines which represent rays.

Route on google

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