Standing alone in a private garden, this stone proudly displays ancient carvings. (photographs graciously provided by one of our readers) This is a cylindrical menir, with the top broken. It is decorated with vertical bands of carved waving lines. (Serpentiform?) The menir was re-erected on the site where it was found by the landowner. Menir …
This little stone stands peacefully in an urban environment. Having been moved from its original location, it now serves as an enigmatic reminder to passers-by that people had lived here and built markers like this many thousands of years ago. (photographs graciously provided by one of our readers) This was apparently found in the area …
This rough stone is positioned in the middle of a sidewalk in an urban area of the town of Portimão. Having been moved from the distant mountains in prehistoric times, it was again moved in modern times because of construction. It now serves as an enigmatic presence in the urban context: challenging passers-by to think …
This Neolithic stone stands again in a park, slightly removed from its original position. Whatever its original purpose, it now stands as a focal point in an urban environment. (photographs graciously provided by one of our readers) According to a post from the Museum of Portimão, this menhir was found fractured, lying on its side …
Also known as: Menires da Pedra Escorregadia, Sepultura da Pedra Escorregadia, Necrópole da Pedra Escorregadia Stand on the hilltop, and listen to the cars racing past on the road below. On this hill, the stones have stood still for many thousands of years. Looking around the view, you can see to the ocean in several …
Two groups: Cromeleque de Amantes 1, Cromeleque de Amantes 2 (also known as Menires de Amantes 2) Walking around the field, several large stones stand out. They’re toppled over and broken, but their smoothed cylindrical shape belies their origins: these are shaped stones, made into menires (Portuguese spelling), or standing stones, thousands of years ago. …
Standing sentinel above the fields around Sagres and Vila do Bispo, the conical menir (the common English term is “menhir“) seems the solitary example of prehistoric megalithic construction in the area. But look more closely in the area, and you will find remnants of its original neighbours. Look around again and imagine the area dotted …
Broken stones lie scattered in the fields above Sagres and the Cabo de São Vicente. If you look closely at them, you’ll see that they are shaped into smooth obelisks. Were these territorial markers in ancient times? Did prehistoric people use them for ritual purposes? We don’t really know. Today, they are merely stones lying …
Sit on the edge of the cliff, looking out to sea. The wind blows in your face while the sun warms your back. Watch people walking along the beach. Watch fishermen walking along the cliffs. Then look down at the sandstone sheet below you. The marks in the stone are the footprints left by people …
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 …