Great Dolmen of Zambujeiro
Great Dolmen of Zambujeiro (Portuguese: Anta Grande do Zambujeiro) is a megalithic monument located in Nossa Senhora da Tourega, near Valverde, in the municipality of Évora, considered one of the biggest such structures in the Iberian Peninsula.[1]
History
Research has dated this dolmen structure to between 4000-3000 B.C., concurrent with the megalithic construction associated with the region of Évora.[2] It is linked to the dolmen culture of the Anta Grande da Comenda da Igreja (Great Dolmen of Comenda da Igreja in the municipality of Montemor-o-Novo.[1]
In 1965, there were archaeological excavations completed by Henrique Leonor Pina, resulting in the discovery of a number of artefacts that were transferred to the museum of Évora.[1] These excavations, which created some controversy (due to techniques used to examine the structure), unearthed slate tablets, necklaces, crosiers, copper objects, ceramics and carinated bowls.[2]
Due to its importance, the Great Dolmen of Zambujeiro (Portuguese: Anta Grande do Zambujeiro) was declared a national monument by the Portuguese government in 1971 (Decree-Law No.516/71, 22 November 1971).[2]
With fears of deterioration of the archaeological site, a metallic enclosure was constructed to protect the site (1983).[2]
A secondary series of excavations were completed between 1989-1990, under the direction of Carlos Tavares da Silva (although there have been no publications on its results).[2]
Architecture
The Great Dolmen is located one kilometre north of the historical Convent of Bom Jesus of Valverde, in the civil parish of Nossa Senhora da Tourega, around Herdade da Mitra (Valverde).[2] This monument illustrates the organizational and technical capabilities of the Neolithic settlements and cultural groups of the period.
Consists of an irregular free-standing plan, composed of a single-chamber, articulated horizontal body with polygonal chamber and rectangular corridor.[2][1] The funerary chamber and access corridor are covered by size-specific slabs of rock: large granite slabs over the funerary chamber and smaller rock slabs on the entrance corridor.[2][1]
The principal face, orientated towards the east, is constituted by the projection of the corridor over the chamber face.[2]
The remaining façades are obstructed by the observation mound, which still covers almost the entire structure except for the eastern side. The polygonal chamber, consisting of seven 8 metre-high pillars, is followed by smaller 2 metre-high slabs forming a 12 metre long (1.5 metre wide) corridor.[2][1] The 7 metre coverage slab (acting as a roof), lies broken on the mound, with a sag on its western edge.[2][1]
The entrance was marked by a large menhir, decorated with dimples, which is now lying on the ground.[2][1]
References
- Notes
- ^ a b c d e f g h IGESPAR, ed. (2011), Anta Grande do Zambujeiro (in Portuguese), Lisbon, Portugal: IGESPAR - Instituto Gestão do Patrimonio Arquitectónico e Arqueológico, archived from the original on 1 October 2012, retrieved 25 July 2011
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Branco, Manuel (1993). SIPA (ed.). "Anta Grande do Zambujeiro" (in Portuguese). Lisbon, Portugal: SIPA – Sistema de Informação para o Património Arquitectónico. Archived from the original on 2012-03-17. Retrieved 2011-07-25.
- Sources
- Pina, Henrique Leonor (1970), "Novos Monumentos Megalíticos Do Distrito de Évora", Actas do II Congresso Nacional de Arqueologia (in Portuguese), Coimbra, Portugal
{{citation}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - Gonçalves, José Pires (1975), Roteiro de Alguns Megálitos da Região de Évora (in Portuguese), Évora, Portugal
{{citation}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - Silva, António Carlos, ed. (1992), Roteiro do Megalitismo de Évora, Évora, Portugal: Câmara Municipal de Évora
Related links
- Almendres Cromlech
- Megalithic
- Neolithic
External links
- Anta Grande do Zambujeiro at The Megalithic Portal
- Megalithomania
- Ancient-Wisdom: Online Resource Centre
- GEMA - Grupo de Estudos do Megalitismo Alentejano
- v
- t
- e
- Metsamor
- Zorats Karer
- Gobustan Rocks
- Beglik Tash
- Garlo
- Barnenez
- Tumulus of Bougon
- Caixa de Rotllan
- Carnac
- Menhir de Champ-Dolent
- Dolmen de Bagneux
- Broken Menhir of Er Grah
- Dolmen de Mané-Kerioned
- Filitosa
- Gallardet Dolmen
- Gavrinis
- Harrespil
- Hotié de Viviane
- Kerzérho
- Locmariaquer megaliths
- Mane Braz
- Paddaghju
- Peyre-Brune
- Tombeau de Merlin
- Tremeca
- Verziau of Gargantua
- Altendorf
- Denghoog
- Fraubillen cross
- Harhoog
- Lancken-Granitz dolmens
- Lohra
- Megaliths in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
- Niedertiefenbach
- Oldendorfer Totenstatt
- Riesenstein
- Route of Megalithic Culture
- Sieben Steinhäuser
- Wotanstein
- Züschen
- Castel Menhir
- Le Creux ès Faïes
- Déhus Dolmen
- Les Fouillages
- La Gran'mère du Chimquière
- Le Trépied
- La Varde
- List of five-stone circles
- List of multiple-stone circles
- Ardgroom
- Ardristan standing stones
- Beltany stone circle
- Bohonagh
- Brownshill dolmen
- Brú na Bóinne
- Carrigagulla
- Carrowmore
- Castlenalacht Stone Row
- Castlestrange Stone
- Creevykeel Court Tomb
- Drombeg
- Gaulstown Portal Tomb
- Glantane East
- Grange stone circle
- High cross
- Kealkill
- Knocknakilla
- Meehambee Dolmen
- Piper's Stones
- Poulnabrone dolmen
- Reask
- Templebryan Stone Circle
- Turoe Stone
- Uragh Stone Circle
- Megalithic Temples (Borġ l-Imramma
- Borġ in-Nadur
- Buġibba
- Debdieba
- Ġgantija
- Ħaġar Qim
- Ħal Ġinwi
- Kordin
- Mnajdra
- Qortin l-Imdawwar
- Santa Verna
- Skorba
- Ta' Ħaġrat
- Ta' Marżiena
- Ta' Raddiena
- Tal-Qadi
- Tarxien
- Tas-Silġ
- Xemxija
- Xrobb l-Għaġin)
- Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum
- Xagħra Stone Circle
- Almendres Cromlech
- Anta de Adrenunes
- Anta de Agualva
- Anta do Alto da Toupeira
- Antas do Barrocal
- Anta de Carcavelos
- Anta da Estria
- Antas da Valeira
- Anta do Monte Abraão
- Antas do Olival da Pêga
- Anta da Pedra dos Mouros
- Anta das Pedras Grandes
- Anta da Vidigueira
- Great Dolmen of Zambujeiro
- Barreira Megalithic Complex
- Dolmen of Cunha Baixa
- Dolmen of Carapito I
- Great Dolmen of Comenda da Igreja
- Menhir of Outeiro
- Menhir of Bulhoa
- Vale Maria do Meio Cromlech
- Xerez Cromlech
- Picture stones
- Runestones
- Stone circles
- Stone ships
- Boundary Stones
Kingdom