This 'Stonehenge' In Portugal Is Even Older Than The U.K. Site

England's Stonehenge may be the most iconic of megaliths, but that doesn't mean it's unique or the oldest. In fact, when it comes to age, it certainly isn't. The Cromlech of the Almendres in Portugal is much older. This is considered to be the best example of Neolithic structures in the Iberian Peninsula and one of the best in Europe.

In the United Kingdom, Stonehenge isn't even the oldest there. In fact, some of the oldest sites known today are in the far north in remote islands off the coast of Scotland. There in the Orkney Islands, the Skara Brae Prehistoric Village preserves a village and megaliths that predate Stonhenge.

The Age and Structure of The Cromlech of the Almedres

The Cromlech of the Almedres is a megalithic complex in Portugal, it is the largest group of structured menhirs in the Iberian Peninsula to survive today. A "cromlech" is a megalithic construction of large stone blocks.

It is believed to be incredibly old dating back to the 6th millennium BC - far older than Stonehenge or the Great Pymaids. But perhaps the oldest permanent site known to date is the 14,000 or so year old Karahan Tepe - a sister site to Gobekli Tepe in Turkey (excavations are ongoing now).

It was rediscovered in 1966 by Henrique Leonor Pina. In the ensuing excavation, a series of both megalithic and neolithic construction phases were unearthed. These are called:

Almendres I: Dating from 6000 BC - the Early Neolithic
Almendres II: Dating From 5000 BC - The Middle Neolithic
Almendress III: Dating From 4000 BC- The Late Neolithic

The three phases of the site are built differently. The older (Early Neolithic) monoliths are built as two to three concentric circles with smaller monoliths in the western part of the site. The Middle Neolithic ones are built as two ellipses. The Late Neolithic modified the earlier ones into a site for social or religious rituals.

The cromlech is made in a circular pattern and is marked by around 95 granite monoliths that are organized into small groups. They are originally built to correspond to the Equinox.

The relative chronology of the cromlech and the menhirs has been shown to be incredibly complex. It covered a period from the Neolithic to the Chalcolithic.

Like many other similar sights across Europe, it is believed to have been used for primitive astronomical observations or for religious or ceremonial purposes.

Over the many millennia many of the stones had fallen over, so the Portuguese government embarked on a major restoration project in the 1960s to get them back where they once were.

Some of the stones bear interesting markings or characteristics, some of these are:

Stone 48: Has a Small Figure Holding A Staff or Crosier
Stone 57: Was Flattened On One Side And Has 13 Images Of Some Prestigious Ancient Objects
Stone 56: Has A Human Face, It Thought Of As A Menhir Statue - Maybe a God
Stone 58: Has Three Solar Discs and Lines Indicated Sunrays

The Best Of Many In The Region

The Cromlech of the Almendres is not in isolation, it is located in an area with a significant number of megalithic monuments. About six miles away is the significant site of Vale Marie do Meio Cromlech and near to that are two neolithic dolmen or megalithic tombs as well as the Portela de Modos cromlech.

Who knows how many more sites there are to be discovered? The Vale Marie do Meio Cromlech was only discovered in 1993.

District of Evora: A Hotspot of Megalithic Sites

They are found in the Evora region of Portugal and there are more sites than those mentioned above. These are some of the oldest monuments in Europe from the time when man was transitioning from hunter-gathering to farming.

In this one district, there are over 10 megalithic enclosures, over 100 isolated menhirs, around 800 dolmens, and almost 450 megalithic settlements. Now that is some serious history and it's not even touristic!

If visiting then consider traveling in a circuit around the many megalithic sites of the region - Visit Evora has put together a map for people to follow.

Visiting The Site

Today it is a great stop for those exploring the may off-the-beaten-track secrets of the stunning Iberian country of Portugal. One can expect to have the site more or less to oneself as this has not been marketed as a particularly tourist location (yet). There is little public transport to the site with no bus routes, it is best to drive oneself.

There is reportedly a relaxed approach to the management of the site and it is not cordoned or fenced off and so one is free to explore as one chooses.