Almendres Cromlech

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Almendres Cromlech megalithic complex, located near Evora - Portugal, is one of the first public monuments. It's the largest existing group of structured menhirs in the Iberian Peninsula, and one of the largest in Europe.

This megalithic monument consisted originally of more than one hundred monoliths, some of which over the ages were taken away for other uses. A recent digging showed that the complex underwent several building phases during the neolithic period (5000 - 4000 b.c.).

Today, 92 menhirs of different sizes form two grounds built oriented according to different equinox directions. About a dozen monoliths present some form of carved drawings, of which four exhibit only small circular holes. It is believed that the monument had religious purposes as well as functioning as a primitive astronomical observatory.