Almendres Cromlech: Encyclopedia - Almendres Cromlech

Almendres Cromlech

The Almendres Cromlech megalithic complex, located near Evora - Portugal, is one mankind’s first public monuments. It's the largest existing group of structured menhirs in the Iberian Peninsula, and one of the largest in Europe.

This megalithic monument consisted originally of more than an hundred monoliths, some of which over the ages were taken away for other uses. A recent digging showed that there were several building phases during the neolithic (5000 - 4000 b.c.).

Today, 92 menhirs of different sizes form two grounds built oriented according to different equinox directions. About a dozen monoliths present some form of carved drawings, of which four exhibit only small circular holes.

It is believed that the monument had religious purposes as well as functioning as a primitive astronomical observatory.

Almendres Cromlech - Almendres Menhir

A few kilometers from the megalitc complex stands the Almendres Menhir, a single standing menhir from the same period.

Almendres Cromlech - Related topics

• Cromlech
• Menhir
• Megalithic
• Neolithic
• Anta Grande do Zambujeiro
• Carnac
• Ceide Fields

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Almendres Cromlech", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki