Almendres Cromlech
historyThe Almendres Cromlech megalithic complex, located near Guadalupe, Évora, Portugal, is one of the earliest public monuments. It is the largest existing group of structured menhirs in the Iberian Peninsula, and one of the largest in Europe.
This megalithic monument originally consisted of more than one hundred monoliths, some of which have been taken away for other uses. A recent dig showed that the complex had undergone several building phases during the neolithic period (5000 - 4000 b.c.).
It was found rather late, in 1964Marciano C, "Sobre o PossÃvel Significado Astronómico do Cromeleque dos Almendres" (On the Possible Astronomical Significance of the Almendres Cromlech), »http://crookscape.org/textjul2005/text03.html (portuguese, visited 30-10-2008)Pina, H.L., "Novos Monumentos MegalÃticos do Distrito de Évora" Actas do II Congresso Nacional de Arqueologia, Coimbra, 151, 1971 ("New Megalithic Monuments in the Évora District", Portuguese).
92 menhirs of different sizes currently form two grounds that were built oriented to different equinox directions. Several of them were put back in placeAlvim, P et al., "Sobre alguns vestÃgios de paleoastronomia no Cromeleque de Almendres" in A Cidade de Évora, nº 2 - II Série, 5 - 23, 1996-1997 ("On Some Hints of Paleoastronomy at the Almendres Cromlech", Portuguese).
The axis of the ovals is oriented along am east-west direction. The complex's position latitude is about the same as the maximum moon elongation (38,55 degrees for 1500 BCE); the other latitude at which that happens is that of Stonehenge, 51,18 degrees for 2000 BCE.
About a dozen monoliths present some form of carved drawings, four of which exhibit only small circular holes. Monolith number 8, with a cut flat top at about breast level and showing several dimples, might have served for finer astronomical observation, specially spring equinox observation, by putting small stones on them. These observations might be made from stone 39, on the eastern focal point of the elliptic layout.
It is believed that the monument had religious purposes and functioned as a primitive astronomical observatory.
Almendres Menhir
The Almendres Menhir, a single standing menhir from the same period, is located , about 1400 m northeast from the megalithic complex, and near the road to Guadalupe.
The line from the Almendres Cromlech to this menhir points roughly towards the sunrise in the Winter solstice .
- Cromlech
- Menhir
- Megalithic
- Neolithic
- Anta Grande do Zambujeiro
- Carnac
- Ceide Fields
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- » Almendres Menhir at The Megalithic Portal
- »Megalithomania
- »Megalithic Study Group of Alentejo (GEMA - Grupo de Estudos do Megalitismo Alentejano)
- »A short description of the Almendres Cromlech (Portuguese).
- »Marciano C, Calado M. Spring Moon Sites in Central Alentejo.
- »Marciano M. Sobre o PossÃvel Significado Astronómico do Cromeleque dos Almendres. (On the Possible Astronomical Significance of the Almendres Cromlech - Portuguese).
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