Anta dos Pombais

Also known as: Anta do Pombal

Ancient and more recent construction collide in this strange shelter or shed in the Castelo de Vide countryside. Originally a prehistoric anta (or dolmen), it was converted into a more modern farm construction. It’s an opportunity to reflect on the effects of the modern world on ancient structures.

This anta is in a quinta or farm, and has been used for practical purposes in the past. It was likely used as a dovecote (pombais means “dovecotes”) and possibly a shed, a shelter, and/or a chapel. Besides the additional walling, there are signs of the use of whitewash.

There are four of the original (probably) seven orthostats supporting the capstone. Any corridor has been destroyed. The spaces between the orthostats has been filled in with stone walling and masonry. The anta is approximately 3.4m in diameter, and about 3.8m tall. The capstone is still in situ, but the corridor has been destroyed. It is dated back to the early Chalcolithic period, or possibly the Late Neolithic, so it was likely built sometime around 3,000BC.

It was identified in 1868 by Francisco Pereira da Costa, as “Anta de Pombaes.” It was classified as a National Monument in 1910.

Location

The anta is in the Alto Alentejo area (“Upper Alentejo”), in the district of Portalegre. It’s in the municipality of Castelo de Vide, parish of Santa Maria da Devesa. It is on private land, in the Quinta Pombal, about 5km north of the town of Castelo de Vide.

Coordinates: 39,4372166, -7,4592411

Access

The anta is location on private land. Please be respectful.

You can reach the anta along the PR2 trail, “Recorrido de Torrinha.” The gate to the Quinta Pombal is not locked. There is a sign on it that says “Please close the gate.” You may pull it open and enter, but close it behind you. The anta is about 380 meters from the gate. The walk is fairly easy and level, along a dirt road.

Signage

There are signs along the municipal roads directing vehicles to the “Quinta dos Pombais.” These will lead you to the entrace to the Quinta Pombal, which is next to the spot where the old railroad track crosses the EM1006. There are signs along the trail that point to the Anta dos Pombais.

Links

• Entry (in English) in the Megalithic Portal
• Article (in German) on Wikipedia
• Short description (in English) on Natural.pt
• Description (in English) of the PR2 hiking trail from Natural.pt
• Description with downloadable PDF (in Portuguese) of the PR2 hiking trail from town hall of Castelo de Vide
• 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

There are many prehistoric sites around Castelo de Vide. The closest (only a few hundred meters) is the Anta do Pincho, also along the PR2 “Recorrido de Torrinha” trail.