# Prehistoric Portugal

> Exploring Portugal's megaliths, prehistoric art, fossils, and more


## Posts

- [Museum of Vila do Bispo](https://prehistoricportugal.com/museum-of-vila-do-bispo/): In Portuguese: Museu de Vila do Bispo, also known as: Celeiro da História (“The Granary of History”) Come into this restored granary, and walk through the history of the region. From dinosaurs to the modern day, a carefully and artistically designed space guides you through the huge spaces of the old warehouses, teaching you and showing you how the region has been shaped by history. The design of the museum, with an interesting flow through the huge spaces of the old granary, has won architectural awards. It’s an effective and engaging journey through history and prehistory. There’s plenty to appeal […]
- [Dinosaur Footprints of Praia Santa](https://prehistoricportugal.com/dinosaur-footprints-of-praia-santa/): Stand on the rock ledge as the waves crash beneath you. The strange holes in the rock ledge weren’t created by an accident of geology. They are the footprints that a dinosaur made, a hundred million years ago. Careful: don’t let the yawning chasm of time make you dizzy, or you’ll fall into the sea below! There are three track levels at the eastern edge of Praia Santa (Santa Beach). There are very well preserved and clear prints that have characteristic shape of ornithopod footprints, and are very similar to prints which have been attributed to Iguanodontipus. Iguanodons were bipedal […]
- [Dinosaur Footprints of Praia da Salema](https://prehistoricportugal.com/dinosaur-footprints-of-praia-da-salema/): Standing on the huge rock slab, you can see most of the beach. People walking up and down, leaving footprints that get washed away by the waves. Down at your feet, marvel at the footprints that won’t get washed away. They’ve lasted millions of years, and will no doubt still be there long after you are gone. These are dinosaur footprints, made in mud that became stone long ago. This is a tracksite of dinosaur footprints from the Lower Cretaceous period, dating back to about 100-150 million years ago. 13 lined-up footprints were identified, with several clear three-toed prints that […]
- [Menir de Odiáxere](https://prehistoricportugal.com/menir-de-odiaxere/): 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 de Odiáxere by Luís Câmara on Sketchfab Location The menir is in the Algarve, district of Faro. It’s in the municipality of Lagos, near the western entrance to the town of Odiáxere. It’s located on private land, in the Quinta do Menir. Access The menir […]
- [Menir de Vale da França](https://prehistoricportugal.com/menir-de-vale-da-franca/): 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 and moved to its present location as buildings were being constructed. This menhir has a neighbour, the Menir of Três Bicos: they are collectively referred to as the two menhirs of Vale da França. Location The menir is in the Algarve, district of Faro. It’s […]
- [Pedra Moirinha](https://prehistoricportugal.com/pedra-moirinha/): 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 about what it is and why it is there. (photographs graciously provided by one of our readers) This large block of stone came from the Serra de Monchique, about 15km to the north. It’s a stone of nepheline syenite, but it’s located in an area […]
- [Menir dos Três Bicos](https://prehistoricportugal.com/menir-dos-tres-bicos/): 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 in the area. An archaeological excavation was undertaken in 2007, and it was then restored and re-erected in the park. This is to the west of where it was originally found. There are four engraved circles on the menhir. This is considered one of the […]
- [Pedra Escorregadia](https://prehistoricportugal.com/pedra-escorregadia/): 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 directions. This place was significant to our ancestors many thousands of years ago. This site (translated as “slippery rock”) has several fallen stones (“menhirs” in English, or “menires” in Portuguese) and a collective tomb. Menires There are supposedly three menires, but I could only find […]
- [Cromeleques de Amantes](https://prehistoricportugal.com/cromeleques-de-amantes/): 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. These aren’t just any menires: they are part of a stone circle, or cromeleque (Portuguese spelling). The Cromeleque de Amantes 1 was identified in the 1970s by archaeologist Mário Varela Gomes and documented in the 1980s. Contemporary maps and guides to the megaliths of the […]
- [Menires do Padrão](https://prehistoricportugal.com/menires-do-padrao/): 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 with standing stones. What a sight it would have been for people here over six thousand years ago! The Menir de Padrão is the only standing stone in the region that has been re-erected, but there was originally a group of fifteen standing stones. This […]
- [Menires de Milrei](https://prehistoricportugal.com/menires-de-milrei/): 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 in a field. There are more than twenty menires (“menhirs”) in the area, all fallen. Some are broken. They have very likely been moved from their original locations by farmers. (This area was heavily used for wheat farming in the 20th century.) They are not […]
- [Neanderthal footprints](https://prehistoricportugal.com/neanderthal-footprints/): 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 walking on sand dunes here tens of thousands of years ago. Homo sapiens walk here now, but these were Neanderthals. Who will find our footprints tens of thousands of years from now? In 2020, archaeologist Carlos Neto de Carvalho and his Geographer wife, Yilu Zhang, […]
- [Anta Grande da Comenda da Igreja](https://prehistoricportugal.com/anta-grande-da-comenda-da-igreja/): 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 […]
- [Conjunto Megalítico do Monte de Têra](https://prehistoricportugal.com/conjunto-megalitico-do-monte-de-tera/): Also known as: Alinhamento da Têra, Alinhamento do Monte de Têra Standing tall with flocks of sheep to keep them company, the stone pillars line up from East to West. There are gaps in their formation revealing the loss of some of their number over the thousands of years they have stood here. The five remaining stones stand proudly after being restored to their original positions and vertical aspect. This group (“conjunto”) of five menhirs stands in a straight line. This is a highly unusual arrangement, which is possibly unique in all of Iberia. It was identified in 1996 by […]
- [Archaeological Museum of São Miguel de Odrinhas (MASMO)](https://prehistoricportugal.com/archaeological-museum-of-sao-miguel-de-odrinhas-masmo/): Name in Portuguese: Museu Arqueológico de São Miguel de Odrinhas (MASMO) A beautiful museum, built around the ruins of a Roman villa, which houses a vast collection of artefacts. There are inscriptions and relics from the Roman period, as well as relics from more recent eras and others dating back through the prehistoric eras to Paleolithic times. This amazing collection shows the richness of human occupation in the Sintra area over many thousands of years. The museum was built on the site of a Roman ruin. There had been displays of Roman inscriptions in the local chapel since the 1400s […]
- [Cromeleque de Vale d'El Rei](https://prehistoricportugal.com/cromeleque-de-vale-del-rei/): Also known as: Cromeleque do Monte da Têra, Cromeleque do Monte das Figueiras, Recinto Megalítico de Vale d’El Rei Walking among these perfectly arranged stones on an Alentejo hilltop, you can almost feel the ancientness of the land. These stones were placed here six or seven thousand years ago, and likely were being used and visited by people for many hundreds, if not thousands of years. Despite the careless disregard of poorly-educated farm labourers, they are once again standing proud in their original locations. This cromeleque forms a clear and nearly perfect horseshoe, opening to the East. There are 12 […]
- [Cromeleque da Portela de Mogos](https://prehistoricportugal.com/cromeleque-da-portela-de-mogos/): Also known as: Cromeleque da Portela de Modos Walk up the small hill, through the Alentejo cork oak forest. The wind blows through the trees, rustling the leaves. Up ahead, stand a group of still grey shapes. These stones have stood here for millennia, both upright and laying down. Once again they stand tall, dwarfed by the height of the surrounding trees, but proud in their timelessness. This is an oval cromeleque, made up of about 40 menires, carved from local stone. (“Grandodiorite” – a type of stone, like granite.) Many are shaped in an ovoid fashion, typical of the […]
- [Menires do Alto da Cruz](https://prehistoricportugal.com/menires-do-alto-da-cruz/): Also known as: Cruciforme Megalítico do Alto da Cruz, Cromeleque Cruciforme do Alto da Cruz English translation: “Menhirs of Peak of the Cross”, or “Megalithic Cross-Shape…” or “Cross-Shaped Cromlech…” The wind blows gently through the trees and grass on the top of the Alentejan hill. On a cement block stands a tall geodesic marker. The stones beneath it seem diminished, but they have stood here far longer: many thousands of years longer. Their ancient markings defy the modern marker to last one tenth as long. This group of menires (I’m using the Portuguese spelling) was first identified by archaeologists in […]
- [Abrigo de Lagar Velho](https://prehistoricportugal.com/abrigo-de-lagar-velho/): Also known as: Vale de Lapedo Walk along the valley floor, enjoying the sunshine and peacefulness of the sparsely populated road. The wind blows through the trees, adding a soft rustling sound to the noise of the stream. On either side of the valley floor, rough stone cliffs reach up above the trees. Peering through the trees, across the stream, a large bulging cliff face looms above a corrugated metal roof suspended on a lattice of metal poles. If you could enter the enclosure, you would be standing in the centre of a site with incredible archaeological importance. Instead, you […]
- [Anta do Vale da Laje](https://prehistoricportugal.com/anta-do-vale-da-laje/): Also known as: Anta 1 do Vale da Laje, Anta do Casalinho 1 Walk around the grey stones, noting the structure both in the centre and surrounding it. This was an incredibly important construction for thousands of years, used by people for burials and possibly more. The current buildings around it seem oblivious: do the people who live in these houses (or at least come to visit the nearby reservoir on holiday) know the ancient grandeur the site would have had? This anta (“dolmen” in English) is the oldest in the region, over 6,500 years old. (There are some sources […]
- [Gruta do Escoural](https://prehistoricportugal.com/gruta-do-escoural/): Walk down the stairs, ducking your head beneath the stone ceiling. Wooden steps lead you down into the Earth. Electric lights have been installed to guide your way, but the silence and the still air remind you that you are in an ancient place. Duck down and follow the laser pointer of your guide. With her explanation, the marks on the wall take the shape of a horse’s belly and legs. These were painted here tens of thousands of years ago by humans who had no language, built no permanent structures, and lived as hunter-gatherers. The person who painted this […]
- [Anta da Foz do Rio Frio](https://prehistoricportugal.com/anta-da-foz-do-rio-frio/): Also known as: Anta da Casa dos Mouros In the sunshine, the light glints off the river below. Birds and insects fill the air with sound, competing with the hum of traffic on the bridge across the river. A riot of wildflowers splashes the green vegetation with yellows, pinks, and more. It’s a gorgeous and quiet spot, and the stones surrounding you frame the view beautifully. They have stood here for over six thousand years, and they’ll still be here long after you depart. Their permanence adds to the peacefulness of this wild spot. This anta (“dolmen” or megalithic tomb) […]
- [Parque Megalítico dos Coureleiros](https://prehistoricportugal.com/parque-megalitico-dos-coureleiros/): Also known as: Necrópole Megalítica dos Coureleiros, Antas dos Coureleiros Walk along the road leading through the farmland: paddocks on either side of you, with the occasional herd of cows. The constant thumping of the nearby rock quarry provides an unpleasant soundtrack for your visit to this “park.” But if you persist, you can see the vestiges of prehistoric megalithic constructions. Four or more antas (or dolmens), chambered tombs, are scattered about the fields. The “park” is located on the Herdade Monte dos Coureleiros. (“Herdade” is an estate) There are four antas (dolmens) officially signposted. A fifth is identified on […]
- [Anta-Capela de São Brissos](https://prehistoricportugal.com/anta-capela-de-sao-brissos/): Also known as: Anta-Capela de Nossa Senhora do Livramento, Anta Ermida de Nossa Senhora do Livramento, Anta de São Brissos, Anta do Livramento In a field in the Alentejo plains, stands a Catholic chapel. Painted in traditional blue and white, it stands out in the green landscape. It’s only on coming closer that you see that the front part looks rough. Under the paint, huge stone slabs stand as they have for millennia. This chapel has been built incorporating an anta, the Portuguese term for a prehistoric megalithic chambered structure. This chapel has been built incorporating a megalithic chambered tomb, […]
- [Anta do Penedo Gordo](https://prehistoricportugal.com/anta-do-penedo-gordo/): Walk through the sunny forests on the hills above the Tejo River. Enjoy the birdsong and wildflowers. As you round a bend on the trail, marvel at the enormous stone slabs standing over 2m tall. They have been standing there for 5,000 years. This anta (“dolmen” – megalithic chambered tomb) was built during the Late Neolithic/Chalcolithic period, about 3500-2200BC. It has an elongated polygonal chamber (3.3m long by 2.7m wide), formed by nine massive granite orthostats (one of which is missing). (“Penedo Gordo” can be translated as “fat stones.”) There is a medium length (3m) corridor formed by four uprights […]
- [Castro de Chibanes](https://prehistoricportugal.com/castro-de-chibanes/): Also known as: Povoada de Chibanes Walk along the ridge of the Serra de Louro, and enjoy the tremendous view. To the east stands the castle of Palmela on a high hill. To the north, you can see to the Tejo River mouth and the capital city of Lisbon. To the south, you can see to Setúbal and the Atlantic Ocean. It’s a commanding view …which is why during times of conflict it was used as a defensive position. At your feet, you can see the remains: stone walls of thick fortifications, as well as the outline of houses and […]
- [Grutas Artificiais da Quinta do Anjo](https://prehistoricportugal.com/grutas-artificiais-da-quinta-do-anjo/): Also known as: Grutas Artificiais do Casal do Pardo, Covas da Moura At the edge of the town of Quinta do Anjo, a rock outcrop looks out over fields festooned with wildflowers. Walk along the outcrop and look into the holes. They lead into large chambers, caves in the rock. These are not ordinary caves. They are grutas artificiais, human-made caves. They were made during the late Stone Age and used through the Copper Age. They were used to hold the remains, and cherished possessions, of departed members of prehistoric peoples living in what is now Portugal. There are (or […]
- [Anta de Azurrague](https://prehistoricportugal.com/anta-de-azurrague/): Also known as: Anta do Zurrague, Anta do Azurrague 1 This anta (dolmen) is currently (from 2024) being excavated by archaeologists on a project titled MEDICE (Memórias, Dinâmicas e Cenários da Pré-história à Época Romana). There are few known antas in the area, and few published reports of this anta. The anta has been seriously disturbed. Only a few of the upright stones from the chamber are in situ, many fallen. There are traces of a low entrance corridor, directed to the East. During excavation some stone tools and human and animal bones were recovered. The notice, as well as […]
- [Anta dos Pombais](https://prehistoricportugal.com/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 […]
- [Perdigões Archaeological Complex](https://prehistoricportugal.com/perdigoes-archaeological-complex/): Also known as: Cromeleque de Perdigões Below the flapping tarpaulins, archaeologists work, carefully excavating holes in the hard clay. There are many holes, forming a series of concentric circles. The team leader explains the site, using maps and illustrations. He points off to the East and explains how the enclosure opened up towards the rising sun, particularly the solstices. He speaks eloquently and passionately about this complex, bringing the visions of the ritual and other activities which were conducted here five thousand years ago. This site is a Neolithic and Chalcolithic site made up of ditches surrounding a central enclosure […]
- [Pedra Branca](https://prehistoricportugal.com/pedra-branca/): Also known as: Dólmen da Pedra Branca, Monument Megalitico da Pedra Branca Walk around the boardwalk and look down at the stones. Their regular placement shows human work. Think about the four and a half thousand years that separate you from their original builders. Did the builders choose this hilly spot for the views to the ocean, 5km away? Was their decision to use some white limestone along with the brownish sandstone a result of practicality, or aesthetics? This dolmen is a chambered structure, with a large polygonal chamber (approximately 3.8m by 3.4m) formed by eight pillars of sandstone and […]
- [Anta do Barrocal](https://prehistoricportugal.com/anta-do-barrocal/): 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 […]
- [Menir da Meada](https://prehistoricportugal.com/menir-da-meada/): Under the bright blue Alentejo sky, the stone pillar points straight up to heaven. Walk around it, feel the solid stone under your fingertips. Realize that multiple millennia ago, people carved this stone into a spear-shaped phallus and planted it upright into the soil. A human erection thrusting to the heavens, it persists and impresses with its enormous magnitude. This is the largest menhir in the Iberian Peninsula. Standing over 7m tall (it was likely taller originally: when it was re-erected the surfaces had to be cut to have them match), it is an enormous phallus-shaped stone pointing to the […]
- [Anta do Pincho](https://prehistoricportugal.com/anta-do-pincho/): Also known as: Anta das Tapadas do Pincho Standing in a pasture in the middle of the Alto Alentejo, the silence all around you is almost palpable. The railway line nearby has long since been abandoned. The dirt track gets little, if any, traffic. The cows are elsewhere. There’s nothing to hear but insect whine, birdsong …and the wind gently blowing through the trees. Look down and look closely at the bushy copse. Granite stones stick out a few centimeters above the bushes. Broken and tumbled, it’s hard to make out that they had been intentionally positioned. But thousands of […]
- [Anta da Melriça](https://prehistoricportugal.com/anta-da-melrica/): Walk across the field, scanning the area for cows or other residents. Enjoy the view across the fields to the hilltop town of Castelo de Vide. Feel the wind in your face as you walk through the low meadowland. As you reach the top of the small rise, the stones appear before you. Towering over the field, the enormous dolmen sits proudly in the middle of a wide, flat pasture. These enormous stones have stood here for millennia, watching the comings and goings of countless generations. They’ll still be here long after you leave. Pass your hands over the face […]
- [Anta do Sobral](https://prehistoricportugal.com/anta-do-sobral/): Also known as: Anta da Nave do Grou As the wind blows across the meadow, it carries the sound of hissing traffic on the nearby road as well as the tinkling of bells of the cows in the pasture. The grass on the mound wavers in the wind all around the stones. The ancient structure stands proudly on a small mound, oblivous to the cow pats and blowing leaves. The structure seems short and stocky, as if to show off its hearty longevity. This anta (or dolmen) has a polygonal chamber with 7 orthostats. The orthostats are quite thick, often […]
- [Tholos do Barro](https://prehistoricportugal.com/tholos-do-barro/): Also known as: Monumento funerário eneolítico do Barro Stand beside the shrine of Nossa Senhora da Pena (“Our Lady of Pity” or “Sorrows” …or possibly “Our Lady of the Rock”) and admire the view all around the hill: the town of Torres Vedras, farmland and smaller villages, the valleys on either side and the hillsides sporting tall wind turbines. The wind blows strongly although the trees along the access road provide a windbreak. At your feet, large stones poke their way out of the soil. Just beyond, the massive circular structure shows that people used this hillside over four thousand […]
- [Municipal Museum of Leonel Trindade](https://prehistoricportugal.com/municipal-museum-of-leonel-trindade/): Just off the pleasant Jardim da Graça in central Torres Vedras stands the gorgeous convent of Nossa Senhora da Graça. Just to the right of the church and the clock tower, a large blue sign beckons you to visit the Museu Municipal Leonel Trindade. When you drag yourself away from the gorgeous courtyard, you enter the small but full museum featuring information and artefacts from thousands of years of the area’s history. There is significant information about the Castro de Zambujal, a significant Copper Age settlement just a short way out of town. (When I visited in March 2025 there […]
- [Anta da Pedra dos Mouros](https://prehistoricportugal.com/anta-da-pedra-dos-mouros/): Also known as: Anta do Senhor da Serra This dolmen is located on private property. I requested permission from the property owner to visit the anta, but never heard back. Therefore I can’t present a personal site visit. This anta is one of the three Antas de Belas, which were declared National Monuments as a group in 1910. This one is located in the Quinta (“Farm” or “Estate”) do Senhor da Serra (“the Lord of the Mountain”), from which it gets its second name. This anta (“dolmen”) was first identified by archaeologist Carlos Ribeiro in the late 1800s, but it […]
- [Anta da Estria](https://prehistoricportugal.com/anta-da-estria/): The cars and trucks go whizzing past. They used to be able to stop and refuel, allowing the people inside a chance to get out and stretch their legs. Now the motorway exit and nobody stops and gets out. The megalithic tomb is largely unvisited and only rarely seen as the vehicles rush past. The motorway has changed the environment around the structure, but it still remains. This is the third, and most recently built, anta (“dolmen”) in the Antas of Belas conjunction. It lies in a fold in the earth and therefore neither of the other two antas can […]
- [Anta do Monte Abraão](https://prehistoricportugal.com/anta-do-monte-abraao/): The rush of traffic on the nearby motorway is noticeable but not overwhelming. The buzz of the electricity wires overhead is a gentle background noise. Occasionally you can hear a distant shout of a person in the apartment buildings at the edge of the field. Mostly, you’re aware of the warmth of the sun and coolness of the breeze. The low vegetation is speckled with yellow wildflowers, and rising from the green grass are several huge stone slabs, forming the remnants of a prehistoric tomb. This five thousand-year-old construction bears the graffiti marks and cast-off rubbish of the modern world […]
- [Tholos do Monge](https://prehistoricportugal.com/tholos-do-monge/): Standing at the top of one of the highest peaks in the Sintra Mountains, you can see all around: Guincho Beach, the Atlantic Ocean, the Setúbal peninsula and the Arrabida Coast. Look down at your feet, and amidst the jumble of stones a circular structure stands out. This massive chamber is part of the Tholos do Monge (the “Tholos of the Monk”), built over 4 thousand years ago. This megalithic structure is a tholos, or a collective funerary structure with a circular chamber covered by a false dome. There are few identified and surviving tholoi in this region of Portugal […]
- [Roman Villa of Freiria](https://prehistoricportugal.com/roman-villa-of-freiria/): This is a Roman site, but it does also have remnants of an Iron Age settlement. Most of the site is of Roman construction (1st century AD/CE), but there are remnants of earlier Iron Age buildings. Pottery from the Chalcolithic period was found on the site, indicating continued occupation from prehistoric to Roman times. Other prehistoric settlements have been identified nearby. A Paleolithic site is 300 meters north of the villa, and another from the Chalcolithic lies 200 meters northeast. Two Bronze Age settlements have been found slightly further to the south. The Roman Villa itself seems to have been […]
- [Artificial Caves of São Pedro do Estoril](https://prehistoricportugal.com/artificial-caves-of-sao-pedro-do-estoril/): Stand on the cliff face and look off to sea, enjoying the fresh breeze. The surf below competes with the noise of the traffic along the Avenida Marginal. Look down: there surrounded by a circular wall and covered by vegetation are the vestiges of caves that were carved into the rock over 4,000 years ago. Think about how time has eroded the waterfront here: rocks tumbling down from the cliff, taking portions of the human-made caves as well as human remains, artefacts, etc. Someday, even this rock wall memorial will disappear. These human-made caves were first found and excavated in […]
- [Artificial Caves of Alapraia](https://prehistoricportugal.com/artificial-caves-of-alapraia/): Portuguese name: Grutas de Alapraia or Grutas Artificiais de Alapraia. Also known as: Necrópole Eneolítica de Alapraia Walk around the neighbourhood of Alapraia, and look into the yards of the houses, read the menu from the restaurant, look at the notices of the clinic. Little glimpses of life in this suburban area surround you. Then turn around and look across the red picket gate. Notice the deep groove carved into the exposed rock under the tree. At the end, a squared-off doorway proves the suspicion that this is not a natural trench worn into the stone. This is a cave […]
- [Menir do Padrão](https://prehistoricportugal.com/menir-do-padrao/): Standing tall on a hillside in the Algarve, this solitary menir bears witness to the vast stretches of time between us and the earliest occupation of this land by people, over seven thousand years ago. This menir is a tall stone of white limestone, the only one standing of a group that originally might have formed a cromeleque. This menir, officially “Menir 1” of the Padrão group, was rebuilt and re-erected in 1984, in its original location. It is the iconic representation of the megalithic heritage of the area, but surprisingly has no legal protection. The various excavations of this […]
- [Interpretation Center of Megalithism](https://prehistoricportugal.com/interpretation-center-of-megalithism/): Portuguese name: Núcleo Interpretativo do Megalitismo Update November 2025: This interpretive centre is CLOSED at the moment. The guard at reception was not able to tell me when it might be reopened. Walk inside the beautiful Remedios Convent and follow the signs past the menirs on display, and you enter a small but fascinating museum of megalithism in the heart of Évora. Celebratings the discoveries in the surrounding regions, the displays will give you information about sites to visit, how the sites were built and how people lived during the time the sites were in use, and a chance to […]
- [Santa Vitória](https://prehistoricportugal.com/santa-vitoria/): Also known as: Povoado Pré-Histórico de Santa Vitória Climb the metal staircase which spirals 4 meters above the hilltop. Look around at the surrounding countryside: the farms, the nearby town, the water works behind you. Then look down at the hilltop surface. Look closely. There, carved into the ground are curving ditches and holes. They don’t look like much, but they are the remnants of a settlement that was built here over five thousand years ago. It’s hard to see the details, but it’s easy to imagine that this high ground with a commanding view of the surroundings would have […]
- [Anta da Coutada de Barbacena](https://prehistoricportugal.com/anta-da-coutada-de-barbacena/): Walking through the fields in this Alto Alentejo countryside, horses gambol around you. Splash across the small stream and look up at the hill before you. A towering eucalyptus tree near its top stands out in the landscape, and you make for it. As you climb the hill, the trees clear out and you see the stone structure before you. For at least five thousand years it has stood here, and it still impresses. Walk around it and marvel at the huge capstone which perches on only two supporting stones. For how many more thousand years will it stay there, […]
- [Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology of Elvas](https://prehistoricportugal.com/museum-of-archaeology-and-ethnology-of-elvas/): Portuguese name: Museu de Arqueologia e Etnografia de Elvas António Tómas Pires As you explore this historic building, you can look at historic displays while walking through one. The walls show one part of history, and the displays reveal many others. Videos show the work done in the bakeries in the building during recent years, while artefacts speak to the work done in the region thousands of years ago. Brush your hand against a table top and electronic sensors trigger the display of an animation showing farming techniques from the 1800s. Move to another display and you can feel the […]
- [Menir da Cabeça do Rochedo](https://prehistoricportugal.com/menir-da-cabeca-do-rochedo/): Standing midway up a hill, overlooking the Algarve coast, the scrubland stretches around you. The power lines above emit a faint hum and you can hear some sounds of work from the nearby quarry. Before you, the battered and scarred stone leans slightly to one side, as if it was tired from its long vigil. It has outlasted its fellows, and remains the sole vestige of a long-gone age of humans. The menir is a granite obelisk, quite tall and round. It’s cracked in several places and has a large chip taken out of the top – result of a […]
- [Anta do Estanque](https://prehistoricportugal.com/anta-do-estanque/): Walk through the quiet village of São Geraldo, and turn down the small lane of Rua Esquerda. Say “bom dia” to the old gentlemen sitting in chairs on the lane outside their houses, having a chat. Then, when you see the silver metal historic plaque from Évora Turismo at the end of the lane, look around the corner of the neat blue and white Alentejana house. The rough stone mound in the corner which serves as a storage shed has been standing there for thousands of years, far longer than the houses around it. It’s a prehistoric tomb which has […]
- [Dólmen de Monte Serves](https://prehistoricportugal.com/dolmen-de-monte-serves/): Also known as: monumento megalítico de Monte Serves The wind blows gently through the tall grass on the hillside as you look out over the broad estuary of the Rio Tejo. Squint and you can see the Vasco da Gama bridge stretching across the water. Every few minutes you can see an aeroplane taking off from the Lisbon aeroport, and then fly overhead with a soft rumble. Despite having a wonderful overlook across to the bustline metropolis, you’re far enough off to enjoy the peace and quiet of the uninhabited hillside. Turn your gaze to the ground below you and […]
- [Pedra da Mua Natural Monument](https://prehistoricportugal.com/pedra-da-mua-natural-monument/): Lean against the wooden railing and look out to sea. The wind off the Atlantic Ocean brings sounds of the surf and seabirds, as well as the scent of the salt water. Look down to the ocean, hundreds of meters below. The ocean pounds against the shore and roils as it curls around the inlet. Across the bay, grey cliffs rise up from the water. Look closely, and you can see the marks in the stone: lines of dots forming trails across the nearly vertical stone. Those are the tracks of dinosaurs, laid down millions of years ago. These are […]
- [Praia das Maçãs Prehistoric Monument](https://prehistoricportugal.com/praia-das-macas-prehistoric-monument/): Portuguese: Monumento pré-histórico da Praia das Maçãs Also known as: Tholos do Outeiro das Mós, or Tholos da Praia das Maçãs In the Neolithic era, about 4,000BC, an artificial cave was dug on this site. It had a corridor and central burial chamber with side niches. Later, a large tholos was built. The site was used through the 3rd millennium BC. The site was originally identified in the 1920s and was excavated in the 1960s. It was declared a National Monument in 1974, but after that it was mostly abandoned and subject to neglect and vandalism. In the early 2000s, […]
- [Pala da Moura](https://prehistoricportugal.com/pala-da-moura/): Also known as: Anta de Vilarinho da Castanheira Picnic tables invite you to sit, rest, and refresh yourself. The pine trees sway and whisper softly in the breeze. Meanwhile, the ancient stone construction reminds you that people were here thousands of years ago, making their own special place. Look closely: what secrets might it hold? The anta (or dolmen) has a polygonal chamber, with a corridor facing East. Its original 8 upright stones and capstone, as well as several corridor stones, are still in place. There is no trace remaining of the original mound. One of the stones has traces […]
- [Prehistoric Rock Art Sites in the Côa Valley](https://prehistoricportugal.com/prehistoric-rock-art-sites-in-the-coa-valley/): As the boats cruise up and down the Douro River, many passengers on board hardly notice the tributary river. As they sip their wines and note the vineyard estates along the banks, they might take a moment to pause and look past the disused train bridge and note the low, rectangular building on the hilltop above. The wide mouth of the Côa River below is the end of a watercourse that snakes among the hills of the Guarda district. The water itself and the valley that contains it both tell (and still hide) significant stories that stretch back far longer […]
- [Penascosa Rock Art Site](https://prehistoricportugal.com/penascosa-rock-art-site/): The hot sun beats down on your head. You can hear the rush of water as the Côa River cascades over rocks: the invitation to enjoy the cool of the green waterside is almost irresistible. But the rocks beckon. On the edge of the beach area, and running up the hillside, an abundance of engraved schist stones stand proudly displaying the artwork they have held for tens of thousands of years. Feast your eyes on the engravings, and then cool yourself at the river. It’s a hot and dusty ride from Castelo Maior to the Penascosa site, but the reward […]
- [Fariseu Rock Art Site](https://prehistoricportugal.com/fariseu-rock-art-site/): The river flows quietly but steadily past the riverbank. The water laps softly against the jetty. Water flows past the rocky outcrops, relentlessly. Turning from their ancient engravings, you watch it head towards the ocean. Beneath the surface, the water flows over other outcrops of rock. Hidden below, more engravings remain unseen and unseeable. What you see is only part of the treasure this site & the valley contains. Reaching the Fariseu site by water is particularly rewarding: it’s cool and quiet and you are intensely aware of the river and its presence and effect on the environment. Standing in […]
- [Côa Museum](https://prehistoricportugal.com/coa-museum/): As you walk down the cement canyon, the walls close in on you and the blue sky dwindles. Darkness encloses you and it seems like you are traveling into the bowels of the earth and back in time. Within, you are surrounded by art and artefacts of life as it was tens of thousands of years ago. Immerse yourself in the paleolithic, here in the centre of one of the most important paleolithic sites in the world. The Côa Museum was built in 2010, on a hilltop overlooking the place where the Côa River meets the Douro. Designed to fit […]
- [Oliveira do Mouchão](https://prehistoricportugal.com/oliveira-do-mouchao/): In a sleepy corner of a small village just north of the Tejo River, stands an oliveira, or olive tree. It’s massive trunk is hollowed out, and is cut off just over three meters above the ground, allowing fresh young branches to grow. The wind whispers softly through the leaves and whistles slightly as it passes through the tunnel in the tree’s trunk. The tree stands placidly but proudly, benignly observing the visitors who take photographs and feel its trunk and leaves. Their lives are only a tiny fraction of the tree’s own lifespan. It has stood here when their […]
- [Interactive Megalithic Museum](https://prehistoricportugal.com/interactive-megalithic-museum/): Name in Portuguese: Museu Interativo do Megalitismo de Mora Step inside the old railway station, and the learning experience begins. A museum focused on antiquity is housed in a building that has been architecturally updated to the 21st century. High technology is used to immerse the visitor into the life and experiences of prehistoric peoples. It’s a fascinating experience in a uniquely designed space. From the information plaque outside the museum: Inaugurated on 15th September 2016, the Interactive Megalithic Museum integrated and rehabilitated the old Mora train station and two new spaces were built, one of which houses the museum. […]
- [Necrópole Megalítica de Chão Redondo](https://prehistoricportugal.com/necropole-megalitica-de-chao-redondo/): ALSO IDENTIFIED AS: Dólmen 2 (or Anta 2) de Chão Redondo, or Monumentos Megalíticos do Chão de Redondo From a distance, it doesn’t seem very extraordinary. There’s a remnant of the large mound of stone and earth which originally covered the prehistoric tomb. The tomb itself looks fairly typical of an average-sized neo-chalcolithic chamber tomb. There are a number of upright stones serving as walls to the corridor and chamber, with two capstones from the chamber remining in place. It’s when you get close that you see them: the intricate engravings on the headstone, covering its entire surface. The other […]
- [Dinosaur Footprints of Praia Grande](https://prehistoricportugal.com/dinosaur-footprints-of-praia-grande/): Looking up at the cliff face, you might think that the footprints were made by lizards climbing up a wall. However, the prints were laid down on a flat muddy lake bed over 100 million years ago. Two-legged dinosaurs left their prints in the mud, which then fossilized and the ground folded by tectonic movement, forming the Sintra hills. Now, they are exposed for two-legged mammals to admire! There are loads of footprints on the cliff face: 11 tracks of 51 footprints, with another 15 isolated tracks. They are mostly three-toed prints, made by therapod dinosaurs that walked on two […]
- [Anta da Comenda Grande](https://prehistoricportugal.com/anta-da-comenda-grande/): Also known as: Anta da Herdade das Comendas It’s not a famous site, or one particularly noteworthy for archaeological artefacts. The farmer’s fence keeps you from walking in and around the stones. It’s easy to overlook while rushing down the road. But, if you take the time to stop and walk along the edge of the field, you’ll be able to admire this lovely chamber tomb while listening to the jangling bells of the cows, admiring the cork oak trees, and enjoying the warmth of the Alentejo sun. This anta (or dolmen) was identified by archaeologists as early as 1900 […]
- [Antas do Herdade de Água Doce](https://prehistoricportugal.com/antas-do-herdade-de-agua-doce/): Also known as: Anta de Vale Beiró & Antas (Grande & Pequeno) de Caminho da Fanica Driving along the N2, Portugal’s iconic “National Road #2,” you experience the richness of the country’s geography and history. Driving along the long stretches of Alentejo countryside, you might be tempted to speed up and get to the next town. But you might miss hidden treasures! At km 496, a stop will be worth your while: just to the left (on the east side of the road) is the Anta de Vale Beiró (#1 in the Água Doce complex). Just up the road lie […]
- [Anta do Monte dos Soldos](https://prehistoricportugal.com/anta-do-monte-dos-soldos/): Also known as: Anta do Outeiro de Santa Clara An anta (or dolmen) with a polygonal chamber, seven uprights and an intact capstone. Its corridor has two existing uprights and a covering stone to the side. It’s on private land the capstone is lined with small stones, probably from the nearby field. Perhaps the most interesting thing about this anta (or dolmen) is the uncertainty of its name. In 1933, Manuel Heleno identified it as Anta do Outeiro de Santa Clara, but was vague about its location. Leonor Rocha relocated it as the Anta do Monte dos Soldos in 2002, […]
- [Antas da Lapeira](https://prehistoricportugal.com/antas-da-lapeira/): Also known as: Antas da Tapada As you drive out of Pavia, heading towards Estremoz, it’s tempting to put the boot down and save time. But slow down and look to your left. Less than a kilometer out of town, lies a beautiful example of prehistoric architecture. Nestled under a tree, on a small hill, lies the first Anta da Lapeira. Cars and trucks go whizzing past, but the dolmen remains. Lapeira 1 is the main anta (or dolmen) in a group of three on the same (private) property. It’s quite complete, with seven uprights and an intact capstone. It’s […]
- [Cromeleque das Fontainhas](https://prehistoricportugal.com/cromeleque-das-fontainhas/): Also known as: Cromeleque do Monte das Fontainhas Velhas Standing above the flat sandy soil, the stones aim for the sky, pointing the way to heaven. Walking among them, feeling their smooth shapes and measuring their arrangement, one can only ponder their construction and purpose. Was this a temple? An astronomical marker? A social gathering place? We’ll likely never know. For now, it is a place to admire the work of ancient people and ponder the 6,000 years between them and us. This cromeleque (or stone circle) presently has 6 existing stones, in a horseshoe shape. There were at least […]
- [Conjunto Megalítico dos Morenos](https://prehistoricportugal.com/conjunto-megalitico-dos-morenos/): In the quiet countryside of the Alto Alentejo, the water of the Santa Margarida stream flows slowly down to the Montargil reservoir. Along its banks, if you look carefully among the trees and bushes, lie two prehistoric tombs made of schist. They’ve endured some rough handling through the ages since they were built, both by humans and by the trees growing in and around them. But their presence is a solid reminder of how humans have lived and died here for many thousands of years. Morenos 3 (above) is the better preserved of the two remaining antas (dolmens). It is […]
- [Anta Pintada de Antelas](https://prehistoricportugal.com/anta-pintada-de-antelas/): ALSO KNOWN AS: Dólmen de Antelas, or in English: the painted dolmen of Antelas On a small dirt road, in the deep interior of central Portugal, rises a small hill. Go around to the back and you find that this is no normal hill: it is an artificial mound. A tumulus, or (in Portuguese) a mamoa. Enter the modern doorway and crawl through the low corridor and you are transported back six thousand years. In the lamplight, striking red and black curves and zigzags cover the stone walls, surrounding other designs that are less abstract: a comb, a sun and […]
- [Anta Pedra do Alagar](https://prehistoricportugal.com/anta-pedra-do-alagar/): ALSO: Anta da Cerca da Francisquinha There’s little left of the original construction of this tomb. It’s somewhat forlorn and tattered from age and raiding. However, it has been recently refurbished and it seems to sit a little more upright and enjoy its place on the top of a hill in the Algarve sunshine. It’s a pleasant journey to visit the site, and the peacefulness of the surrounding forested hills are an added plus to the haggard remains of this prehistoric burial site. There are about 4 uprights (orthostats/esteios) remaining around the chamber of this anta, with little remaining of […]
- [Necrópole de Carenque](https://prehistoricportugal.com/necropole-de-carenque/): ALSO KNOWN AS: Artificial Caves (Grutas Artificiais) of Tojal de Vila Chã Stand on the hilltop and listen. You can hear the hum of traffic on the nearby motorway. Heavy vehicles from the waterworks next door rumble softly. Aeroplanes gently roar overhead. Otherwise, within the fence, all is quiet. Wind blows the grass, and whistles slightly as it goes through the caves carved into the ground. Walk around the hilltop and peer into the holes. The stones are bare, but it’s not hard to imagine the activity of millennia past, when people dug them out of the rock and used […]
- [Caves of Poço Velho](https://prehistoricportugal.com/caves-of-poco-velho/): In Portuguese: Grutas do Poço Velho Under the bustling town, lies a twisting labyrinth of limestone karst caves. Feel the cold, smooth stone as you duck your head: those stones have been worn away by humans for tens of thousands of years. Look into the rounded nooks: people have lain their departed loved ones there. This space, under the cars and cafes and street vendors, is a cool, quiet spot that has been visited by many generations of humans, from early hunter-gatherers to modern urban dwellers. 1.6 million years ago, water seeped into the limestone and formed caves. They’ve been […]
- [Anta do Beringel](https://prehistoricportugal.com/anta-do-beringel/): Also called: Tholos of Cumeada On a hill in the heart of the Algarve, a bare dead tree holds vigil over an ancient megalithic tomb. The surrounding hills provide a backdrop of forest and low scrub, leaving the stones standing out under the hot sun. In the quiet, the millennia that stretch between its construction and our present are almost palpable. While the site is identified as an anta (dolmen), it is considered to be a tholos (or beehive tomb), according to achaeologist Victor Gonçalves. It has 11 pillars in the chamber, and no indication of a capstone. It seemingly […]
- [Silves Municipal Archaeology Museum](https://prehistoricportugal.com/silves-municipal-archaeology-museum/): The building itself of this fascinating museum includes its own National Monument, the cistern well in the centre of the building. Surrounding it, a collection traces the history of this ancient city and region, from prehistoric to modern times. When you enter the museum, you start in the prehistoric section. This first section is full with fascinating artefacts, from paleolithic hand axes through megalithic menhirs, to bronze age pottery and iron age examples of the first written language in Iberia. The displays are in English and Portuguese, and the museum’s guides and information pamphlets use English and other languages as […]
- [Menhirs of Vilarinha](https://prehistoricportugal.com/menhirs-of-vilarinha/): Hiking up and down the hills of central Algarve, the remnants of the past are all around. There are medieval burial sites all around, and then there are the menirs. In a line running northeast to southwest, red sandstone obelisks stand sentinel over the hills. Each one different, they each have distinctive markings and shapes. Along the trail, modern stone arrangements bear witness to the fascination people have had with building and working with stones, from thousands of years ago to the present day. This is an alignment of menirs, running from northeast to southwest, over several kilometers. They are […]
- [Anta da Masmorra](https://prehistoricportugal.com/anta-da-masmorra/): High on a hill, surrounded by nothing but low scrub and forest, stands an abandoned and ruined site: a shattered windmill tower beside the road, forlorn. Just beyond lies the far more ancient Anta da Masmorra, showing less damage than the (relatively) modern windmill. This prehistoric tomb rests quietly in relative anonymity and isolation. It seems to mock the windmill, challenging it to last anywhere near as long. This circular anta is about 3m across, and apart from the lost capstone is in reasonably good condition. It has a commanding view of the surrounding hills, and is in a quiet […]
- [Anta das Pedras Altas](https://prehistoricportugal.com/anta-das-pedras-altas/): Sit on the hill and take in the vista of the Algarve countryside all around you. No town is near enough to hear. You might hear the birds, or possibly barking dogs, but mostly you’ll hear the wind. The dolmen enjoys this peace and quiet, and has done for thousands of years. The noise and disturbance you make is only a passing blip in the eons of peacefulness. The anta (dolmen) dates back five or six thousand years, and apart from lacking its covering capstone is in quite good condition. The information signboard has been sun damaged, with only the […]
- [Anta das Pedras Grandes](https://prehistoricportugal.com/anta-das-pedras-grandes/): The ancient stones stand regally in the centre of a large urban park. Despite the loss of many stones, the anta seems proud to be enshrined in such a prominent spot in the community. Passing dog-walkers may pay no heed, resting or picnicking families may not take time to read the informative plaque, but the park has a focal spot, and the anta is it. The anta, a National Monument since 1910, is the only surviving prehistoric tomb in the region, which is densely populated. It dates back to the 4th millennium BC and was first excavated in 1880. It […]
- [Anta-Capela de São Dinis](https://prehistoricportugal.com/anta-capela-de-sao-dinis/): Also called: Anta de Pavia The enormous dolmen stands proudly in the square, grey and hulking beside the traditional yellow and white Alentejana buildings. It presents its original rear towards the square, but as you head around to its entrance its transformation becomes clear. The squared-off stone entranceway replaces the original corridor, and the cross and bell-tower on the top of the dolmen proclaim its rebirth as a Christian chapel. Peer between the bars of the locked entrance, and you can see the azulejo tiles of the altar and a portrait of Saint Dinis. This ancient tomb is now a […]
- [Dólmen or Anta-Capela of St. Mary Magdalene](https://prehistoricportugal.com/dolmen-or-anta-capela-of-st-mary-magdalene/): Sitting in the quiet & peaceful church, you can contemplate faith and history at the same time. The church itself dates back to the 16th century, and the hundreds of years of devotion has permeated the azulejo tiles, marble altar, and beautiful stained-glass windows devoted to its patron saint. Then you turn and enter the side chapel. Pass through the arch and you enter a short stone corridor and then step out into a vast chamber. The stone walls stretch meters up to the white plaster ceiling, well-lit even on a cloudy day. A small statue (and another azulejo panel) […]
- [Lajedo](https://prehistoricportugal.com/lajedo/): A group of stones in the forest show cup (or “cupule”) marks (the Portuguese term is covinhas, which translates as “dimples”). These are a distinctive prehistoric decoration technique. The carvings are seen on several stones: some are connected by grooves, and others form distinctive alignments or sets. The carvings have been investigated by archaeologists, but the time period in which they were created has not been determined yet. They rest in peace in the hills of central Portugal, an enigma to modern explorers. Was there a significance behind these carvings, or were they made purely for aesthetics? The photos, location […]
- [Menir dos Almendres](https://prehistoricportugal.com/almendres-menir/): As you follow the well-trodden (and well-worn!) path, with wired fences on either side of you, you get the feeling that you are simply being herded to something very pedestrian and unimpressive. The nearby farm buildings do nothing to allay you of your suspicions that you are wasting your time. And then the fences fall away, and you step into the clearing. Above you on the slope of the hill, stands the very impressive Menir de Almendres. Towering above you, it reaches to the sky along with its neighbouring olive trees. It seems to mock the silos behind it. While […]
- [Cromeleque dos Almendres](https://prehistoricportugal.com/almendres-cromeleque/): Stand on the grassy hillside, facing west, surrounded by cork oak trees, and notice the wind blowing and the birds calling. In the far distance, you can just hear the hum of cars & possibly the noise of farmers calling out to their workers. In the far distance, you can glimpse the city of Évora. But here on this hillside, it’s peaceful. Calm. Quiet. Still. So are the stones. They are still. Quiet. Calm. They’ve been here for thousands of years. The people who placed them here are long gone, their specific reasons for building this huge structure of a […]
- [Tomb of Santa Rita](https://prehistoricportugal.com/tomb-of-santa-rita/): The Algarve is known for its sunshine and beautiful beaches, but if you’re faced with a foggy Atlantic morning, it’s a perfect opportunity to pay a visit to the Megalithic Tomb of Santa Rita. The eerie silence, trees looming out of the fog, the sense of isolation …all lend themselves perfectly to the exploration of a prehistoric tomb. This long and narrow (5m x 2m) chambered tomb was only discovered in 2001, and it is still being archaeologically investigated. (The chamber is filled with gravel while waiting for proper plans to preserve the site.) Made of red sandstone slabs, it’s […]
- [Town Museum of Cascais](https://prehistoricportugal.com/city-museum-of-cascais/): Wander through the exhibits of the Town Museum (Museu da Vila) in Cascais, and learn (in English as well as Portuguese) about the history of this fascinating and beautiful town. There are a number of significant prehistoric artifacts on display, found in various artificial caves from around the area. The displays are labeled in both Portuguese and English, and include evidence of human settlement in the Cascais area from Paleolithic times to the present. Most artefacts come from natural and artificial (human dug) caves along the coast line, which served as burial sites. Some of the sites are still in […]
- [Trilobite Museum](https://prehistoricportugal.com/trilobite-museum/): In the gallery, the rectangular sheets of black rock line the walls all around. White-grey images adorn each one. Some are of individual animals, others of groups. Many simply show the trilobites as they had lived (or at least, as they had died). Others showed evidence of specific behaviours such as traveling in a column, or sheltering their young. The depths of time yawn before you: these animals lived five hundred million years ago. The dinosaurs were closer to us in time than to the trilobites: if today was Saturday, and the dinosaurs lived yesterday, then the trilobites lived Monday. […]
- [Barreira Megalithic Complex](https://prehistoricportugal.com/barreira-megalithic-complex/): Portuguese name: Conjunto Megalítico de Barreira, or Menires de Barreira Standing on the hilltop, surrounded by tall trees and lush undergrowth, you are surrounded by a tumbled abundance of giant stones, some standing brightly in the sunshine, with others covered in moss and/or ivy. To the east, you can see the Sintra hills, topped with the fairy-tale Pena Palace. To the west, the magnificent Mafra Palace shines in the sun. The peaceful quiet of the hilltop allows you to turn from the stones, to these more modern wonders, and contemplate the vastness of time. Discovered in 1961 and designated a […]
- [Menir de Aspradantes](https://prehistoricportugal.com/menir-de-aspradantes/): Standing on a ridge of a hill, looking over the fields in the western Algarve, the silence belies the hum of traffic on the distant motorway and the whirr of the towering wind turbines on the far hills. These monumental emblems of the modern age of electricity seem to mock the tiny stone standing alone on the ridge. But the menhir’s ancient age reproves any negative comparison with modern inventions. Will those turbines still be standing many thousands of years from now? This seems to be a solitary stone, but there are three more in a line, separated by 4 […]
- [Lagosteiros Natural Monument](https://prehistoricportugal.com/lagosteiros-natural-monument/): Updated September 2024 Stand on the headland facing the Atlantic Ocean. To your left, just across the bay sheltering Lagosteiros Beach, lies Cabo Espichel which is the furthest point of the Setúbal peninsula. In front, the ocean stretches out to the Americas. To your right, you can make out Lisbon and the Sintra hills across the Tejo River. Look down. The sheet of rocks at your feet is pitted with large round depressions. Around 130 million years ago, during the Cretaceous period, an herbivorous bipedal dinosaur, possibly an Iguanodon, walked through mud. Those are her footprints. Specifically, these are ichnofossils, […]
- [Vale Maria do Meio Cromlech](https://prehistoricportugal.com/vale-maria-do-meio-cromlech/): Portuguese name: Cromeleque do Vale Maria do Meio Nestled in a cork oak forest, the stones stand in an elongated group. The hot breeze blows past them and through the trees, making the leaves tremble and rustle slightly. That’s the only sound you hear, along with the buzz of insects. The stones reflect the intense Alentejo sun, giving off their own heat. They have stood here for thousands of years and will be here forever. Or is that a fact? This cromeleque, or stone circle, was only “discovered” in 1993, and was excavated by Manuel Calado and students from the […]
- [Rock Paintings of Vale de Junco (or Abrigo dos Gaivões)](https://prehistoricportugal.com/rock-paintings-of-vale-de-junco-or-lapa-dos-gaivoes/): Protected by the overhanging rock, the red stains stand out. Even after five thousand years, the shapes and designs can still be made out. What their significance is, we can only guess. Some depict people, others animals, while others are abstract symbols. One panel shows groups of lines: were these ancient people keeping count of something? These paintings were first studied and researched (in modern times!) at the beginning of the 1900’s and they have been analyzed extensively. It was originally called the Abrigo (shelter) of the Vale de Junco (valley of reeds), but as more shelters were found in […]
- [Anta de Agualva](https://prehistoricportugal.com/anta-de-agualva/): Also called: Anta do Carrascal The buzz of traffic is fairly constant. People and dogs come walking by frequently. This is an urban setting, with houses and apartment blocks, shops and businesses all around. You walk along cement pathways, and approach the tomb along wooden boardwalks. There it lies, surrounded by green hedges, nestled in a bed of white stones. The capstone is gone, but the orthostats (upright stones) stand tall and gleaming in the sun. This is a prehistoric site that proudly stands in the middle of a modern town. The passers-by and those who sit on the nearby […]
- [Dinosaur Footprints of Parede Beach](https://prehistoricportugal.com/dinosaur-footprints-of-parede-beach/): It’s a sunny day at the beach in Parede, on the Lisbon coast. Families have set up beach chairs and towels on the sand. Children are playing in the small puddles in the beach rocks. Some splash at the water in a series of nearly circular bowls, 50cm across. Few of them, if any, realize that what they are playing in are the traces of a dinosaur which came walking through shallow water 100 million years ago, leaving footprints in the mud that have become preserved even to the present day. These prints were really only identified by paleontologist Dr […]
- [Welcome to Prehistoric Portugal!](https://prehistoricportugal.com/welcome-to-prehistoric-portugal/): I am an immigrant to Portugal, who came here five years ago to make it my family’s home. Since that time, we’ve traveled to many corners of the country and have loved every place and every experience. Last year, we visited the beautiful town of Marvão, in the Alto Alentejo. This gorgeous city is a walled city in the Serra (Mountains) de São Mamede, along the Spanish border. Perched high in the mountains, it commands a view of all the lands surrounding it, both in Portugal and in Spain. José Saramago, wrote “from Marvão you can see the whole world.” […]

## Pages

- [Christmas2025](https://prehistoricportugal.com/christmas2025/): Use the form below to sign up for lifetime free privileges with Prehistoric Portugal. I’ll collect your data to provide you with access to anything that might be behind a paywall if I ever hit the big time! (I promise to never share your info with anyone else, and if you ever want me to delete your information just let me know.)
- [Sites](https://prehistoricportugal.com/sites/): Portugal has hundreds, if not thousands, of prehistoric sites. These are broken down into the following categories: Many of these sites are visitable, but some are on private land. As archaeologists excavate these sites, any artefacts are kept in museums or universities. Use the map at the right to search among the various prehistoric sites (highlighted map markers indicate megaliths that are described on this website), or use the links above to look for specific types of sites. More posts are added as sites get visited.
- [Settlements](https://prehistoricportugal.com/settlements/): This page features some of the settlements that existed in Portugal during the prehistoric period – typically during the ages of metal. Some were fortified stone hillforts (castros), while others were places enclosed with ditches. Many prehistoric settlements were continued to be occupied in the historic period, and the artefacts and remnants of the prehistoric period may be lost. When there is a significant element of prehistory in such a location, it will be included here. Use the map at the right to search for specific sites (highlighted map markers indicate settlements that are described on this website), or browse […]
- [Profile](https://prehistoricportugal.com/profile/)
- [Account](https://prehistoricportugal.com/account/)
- [Register](https://prehistoricportugal.com/register/)
- [Password Reset](https://prehistoricportugal.com/password-reset/)
- [Log In](https://prehistoricportugal.com/log-in/)
- [Caves](https://prehistoricportugal.com/caves/): There are a number of interesting caves with prehistoric significance. Some are natural caves (in Portuguese, grutas) that contain evidence that humans used them for shelter and/or for entombment. Others are man-made, carved into the stone intentionally to create a space (usually) for internment. (In Portuguese: gruta artificial or plural grutas artificiais) A man-made cave that was used as a temple or tomb is specifically called (from Greek) in English a hypogeum (plural hypogea). (In Portuguese, hipogeu or plural hipogeus) Note that these sites lack evidence of human habitation. Any artefacts found will be displayed in museums. Use the map […]
- [Routes](https://prehistoricportugal.com/more/routes/): There are a number of demarcated megalithic routes in Portugal. We’ll highlight all of them eventually! Most of the sites and information are in Portuguese. Some tourist routes Official routes This listing is not organized at the moment …it’s just a list that I’m adding to.
- [Maps](https://prehistoricportugal.com/more/map/): This page lists several Portugal maps to help you find locations: the site’s Marker Map, Districts of Portugal, and Traditional Provinces 1) Marker Map Notes: 2) Districts of Portugal Portugal’s administrative divisions operate at many levels. Officially, continental Portugal (one of the three main divisions of the country, along with the Açores and Madeira) has a top-level administrative division consists of municipalities and parishes. These are quite small regions, so this site will use Portugal’s districts (which still exist but no longer have official administrative functions). 3) Traditional Provinces Most tourist guides and many books and references will list the […]
- [Language](https://prehistoricportugal.com/more/language/): This is an English language site, but many sites are only known by their Portuguese names. I will use English names when they are very well known, but will use Portuguese names if that is the main way they are known. Locations will generally be given by their Portuguese names, although if an English term is widely used (such as “Lisbon” instead of the Portuguese name “Lisboa”), I will use that. Visiting these sites is far easier if you are familiar with the Portuguese terms. Few signs are in English. Some Portuguese terminology:
- [Museums](https://prehistoricportugal.com/more/museums/): Portugal has a vast collection of museums. Here, we focus on museums that have prehistoric collections or which are focused on prehistory. You can use the map at the right to search for specific museums (highlighted map markers indicate museums that are described on this website), or browse through the entries below. More posts are added as sites get visited. (NOTE: the national museum of archaeology has been closed for renovations and won’t reopen until 2025. When it does, we’ll be sure to visit and include it here.)
- [More](https://prehistoricportugal.com/more/): Tag Cloud Latest Posts
- [Stories](https://prehistoricportugal.com/articles/)
- [Fossils](https://prehistoricportugal.com/fossils/): Portugal is well-known for its collection of dinosaur fossils. In fact, the town of Lourinhã is well known as “Dinosaur Town.” Fossil hunters often scour the coast around Lourinha and find treasures. There are a number of sites around the country where fossils can be visited – usually ichnofossils or “trace fossils” (in Portuguese, icnofosseis) which are the fossilized record of an animal rather than the animal itself. Dinosaur footprints (in Portuguese, pegadas de dinossaurios) abound! (Many fossils are, of course, excavated and displayed in museums.) You can search for specific sites in the map at the right (highlighted map […]
- [Art](https://prehistoricportugal.com/art/): There is a huge amount of prehistoric art in Portugal, including carved or engraved rocks (Portuguese: gravuras rupestres) as well as paintings (pinturas rupestres). The most famous prehistoric art is the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Côa Valley, with open-air rock engravings dating back over 20 thousand years ago. The cave of Escoural has painted artwork that goes back to the Paleolithic period, some of the oldest in Europe. The famous painted dolmen of Antelas is a rare example of painting within a megalithic tomb. There are many more sites, some visitable and some not, and more are also […]
- [Megaliths](https://prehistoricportugal.com/megaliths/): The main human relics from prehistoric times are megalithic constructions. (Megalith means “large stones”) Portugal has hundreds, if not thousands, of megalithic sites. These are broken down into the following categories: Many of these sites are visitable, but some are on private land. As archaeologists excavate these sites, any artefacts of human creation are kept in museums or universities. Use the map at the right to search among the various megalithic sites (highlighted map markers indicate megaliths that are described on this website), or browse through the entries below. More posts are added as sites get visited.
- [Blog](https://prehistoricportugal.com/blog/)
- [Contact](https://prehistoricportugal.com/contact-2/): Let’s Connect! Ready to start your next project? This is some dummy copy. You’re not really supposed to read this dummy copy, it is just a place holder for people who need some type to visualize what the actual copy might look like if it were real content. Inspiro Address 1500 Broadway, New York, NY 10036, United States Email office@example.com Phone 509-394-2555 WHERE ARE WE LOCATED Our Locations AmsterdamMunichBrusselsHong KongBarcelona New YorkParisSan FranciscoSydneyTokyo Thinking about joining our team? Check out our open positions, or drop us a line, say hi. Create your contact form with WPForms in minutes.
- [About](https://prehistoricportugal.com/more/about/): Prehistoric Portugal: an amateur passion project This website is the work of John Iglar. I’m an English-speaking immigrant in Portugal who has become completely enthralled by the incredible history (as well as culture and people) of this land. In particular, the immense wealth of prehistoric sites fascinates me. There is a good deal of information published in English about Portugal’s history from the Roman period to the modern day, but most of the information about Portugal’s prehistory is limited to Portuguese sources, and much of that is academic and only well known to professionals. My goal is to make the […]
- [Homepage](https://prehistoricportugal.com/)
- [Privacy Policy](https://prehistoricportugal.com/more/privacy-policy/): Who we are Our website address is: http://prehistoricportugal.com. This is a private, noncommercial website run by an individual amateur archaeologist/historian. Comments When visitors leave comments on the site we collect the data shown in the comments form, and also the visitor’s IP address and browser user agent string to help spam detection. An anonymised string created from your email address (also called a hash) may be provided to the Gravatar service to see if you are using it. The Gravatar service Privacy Policy is available here: https://automattic.com/privacy/. After approval of your comment, your profile picture is visible to the public […]


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