Also known as: Anta da Herdade do Barrocal, Anta da Herdade do Barrocal 1
Standing tall in a cow pasture in the heart of the Évora “Megalithic Universe,” this massive and beautiful megalithic chambered structure is an impressive sight.
This anta is a large construction: 2.3m high and about 3m in diameter. Seven solid granite slabs support a large capstone. There are a few stones from the corridor, which faces East. It was constructed in the early 3rd millennium BC, making it over 4,000 years old.
The anta was first documented and photographed by archaeologist José Leite de Vasconcellos in 1902. It was studied further in 1949, by Georg and Vera Leisner. It was restored by Henrique Leonor Pina in the 1960s.
There are actually many antas in this herdade (“estate”). Across the road from this anta is the Anta da Herdade do Barrocal 2. These are both in reasonable shape and near to each other. The others are not very accessible and there is little information about them. (Even the archaeologist’s portal only lists a few of them, and the database from the Department of Cultural Heritage identifies a few others.)
Location
The site is in the Alentejo, district of Évora. It’s in the municipality of Évora, in the parish of Nossa Senhora da Tourega e Nossa Senhora de Guadalupe. It is along the N380 heading southwest of Évora towards Alcáçovas
Coordinates for anta 1: 38,5080300, -8,0055600
Coordinates for anta 2: 38,5090700, -8,0066900
Access
Anta 1 lies just off a dirt road which branches of N380. About 1km along that dirt track on the right stands a tall white tower with a conical roof close to the road. There is an opening in the fence beside it with a metal cattle-crossing (metal rails over a hole in the ground). The anta is a short walk away through the pasture.
Signage
There is a sign on along the N380 towards Tourega. The road into Herdade do Barrocal is opposite that direction. There’s a signpost that used to show a prehistoric site, but it’s unintelligible now.
Links
- Article (in English) from Wikipedia
- Entry (in English) in the Megalithic Portal
- Also Anta 2
- Book (in Portuguese), “O Arqueólogo Portugués,” from 1902 has photographs and description by José Leite de Vasconcellos
- Description (in Portuguese) from Archaeologist’s Portal of Directorate-General of Cultural Heritage
- Designation (in Portuguese) as a National Monument by the Directorate-General of Cultural Heritage
- Detailed information (in Portuguese) in the database of the Directorate-General of Cultural Heritage
Nearby
These antas are in the middle of the “Évora Megalithic Universe” – there are sites all around!