Also known as: Anta Grande da Herdade da Comenda
Walk across the cattle field and enter the gate. Looming above you is an impressive stone structure. Walk close and peer through the gap in the stones. The structure is even more impressive, with almost half its height buried under ground. This amazing stone tomb has stood here for five thousand years or more!
This “anta” (or dolmen) is an incredible prehistoric site, located on a hilltop on the right bank of the Lavre stream. Still partially covered by its tumulus (or mound), it has a chamber of 8 massive stone slabs, 6m high. The capstone is still in situ, although it has been broken by a lightning strike sometime in the past. The corridor is mostly intact, just under 2m high and (originally) 11m long, in the direction of the East.
This dolmen has been known to archaeologists for centuries. It was first excavated in the 19th century by José Leite de Vasconcellos, and then again multiple times during the 20th century. Hundreds of artefacts have been retrieved from it and placed in the National Museum of Archaeology in Lisbon: many engraved schist plaques, stone tools, ceramic pots, beaded necklaces and pendants, and more.
Location
This anta is in the Alentejo, district of Évora. It’s in the municipality of Montemor-o-Novo. It’s located just south of the town of São Geraldo, along the EN2 (National Road 2).
Coordinates: 38.7579844, -8.2032034
Coordinates for the gate on the EN2: 38.758669, -8.196616
Access
It’s not hard to reach the anta, but it’s a bit complicated. You will need to park your car at the southern end of the town of São Geraldo. There is space beside the road (the EN2) next to the cemetery. Then you have to walk about 500 meters south along the road. There is no verge, so be very careful about approaching cars! On the right side of the road, just before the 506.3 kilometer marker, there is a closed but unlocked gate. There is a sign that asks you to please close the gate, indicating that you have permission to enter as long as you are respectful to the property (and close the gate behind you!). Go through and about 100m ahead of you there is another gate (with another sign). Go through that and make your way straight across the field. The anta is in a fenced-off area of the field.
Signage
There are absolutely no signs indicating the anta until you actually reach it, then there is an information plaque.
Links
- Article (in English) from Wikipedia
- Entry (in English) in the Megalithic Portal
- Description (in English) by Prof. Phillip C. Lucas, Stetson University, USA
- 3D model (Descriptions in English) from Global Digital Heritage
- 3D model (Descriptions in Portuguese) in MorBase – virtual museum of Montemor-o-Novo
- Video (in Portuguese) from Discover Montemor-o-Novo
- 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
- Photos and description of artefacts (in Portuguese) in the RAIZ database of Museus & Monumentos de Portugal (enter “Comenda da Igreja” into “Origem Historial”)
Nearby
There are loads of prehistoric sites in the area. The Anta do Estanque is in the town of São Geraldo, and the similarly named (but different!) Anta da Comenda Grande is not far away.
Sources
Gonçalves, Victor S., and Marco Andrade. “A Propósito de Algumas Placas Votivas Da Anta Grande Da Comenda Da Igreja (Montemor-o-Novo, Alentejo Médio): Breves Leituras, Esperando Outras, Mais Extensas E Sistemáticas.” Terra E Sal. Das Antigas Sociedades Camponesas Ao Fim Dos Tempos Modernos., edited by Victor S. Gonçalves, Lisboa, Centro de Arqueologia da Universidade de Lisboa, 2021, pp. 167–198, www.researchgate.net/publication/358167328_A_proposito_de_algumas_placas_votivas_da_Anta_Grande_da_Comenda_da_Igreja_Montemor-o-Novo_Alentejo_medio_breves_leituras_esperando_outras_mais_extensas_e_sistematicas. Accessed 22 Nov. 2025.