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<< Our Photo Pages >> Anta 2 do Olival da Pega - Burial Chamber or Dolmen in Portugal in Évora

Submitted by MMG on Tuesday, 22 February 2022  Page Views: 7188

Neolithic and Bronze AgeSite Name: Anta 2 do Olival da Pega
Country: Portugal Distrito: Évora Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Nearest Town: Reguengos de Monsaraz
Latitude: 38.451608N  Longitude: 7.398965W
Condition:
5Perfect
4Almost Perfect
3Reasonable but with some damage
2Ruined but still recognisable as an ancient site
1Pretty much destroyed, possibly visible as crop marks
0No data.
-1Completely destroyed
4 Ambience:
5Superb
4Good
3Ordinary
2Not Good
1Awful
0No data.
4 Access:
5Can be driven to, probably with disabled access
4Short walk on a footpath
3Requiring a bit more of a walk
2A long walk
1In the middle of nowhere, a nightmare to find
0No data.
5 Accuracy:
5co-ordinates taken by GPS or official recorded co-ordinates
4co-ordinates scaled from a detailed map
3co-ordinates scaled from a bad map
2co-ordinates of the nearest village
1co-ordinates of the nearest town
0no data
5

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I have visited· I would like to visit

Bak_teria visited on 7th Feb 2015 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 4 Access: 5

Magalhaes rrmoser have visited here

Anta 2 do Olival da Pega
Anta 2 do Olival da Pega submitted by Maatje : Anta 2 do Olival da Pega (Vote or comment on this photo)
Not just a simple dolmen but a group of five monuments connected to each other, that makes it one of the strangest and most important monuments in the Iberian Peninsula. Nearby it's possible to visit the great monument that takes part of the same group Anta 1 do Olival da Pega. The archaeological value of a funerary complex like this one is enormous. This monument was used for a long time period from the late Neolithic until the Chalcolithic.

Taking as a starting point the typical Anta or dolmen all the other tombs were being constructed and unified all over the years. The proximity of the two monuments and its strong and inevitable link support the conclusion that both are part of the same complex. Both monuments assume themselves as relevant examples of the evolved central Alentejo culture and of the megalithic phenomenon in the whole Iberian Peninsula. Some Portuguese researchers theorize according that each one of the funerary structures attached to the original chamber of Anta 2 are nothing but derivations of this primordial funerary monument. At a certain stage of its use the access has been blocked and then they decided to build other structures. Olival da Pêga 2 like is brother was originally excavated by the famous German couple of archaeologists Georg and Vera Leisner. Anta 2 and also Anta 1 are classified together as Site of Public Interest (SIP – Sitio de Interesse Público) and due to their importance they are also integrated in a Special Protection Zone (ZEP – Zona Especial de Proteção).

About the architecture
Today the appearance of this monument is not fully visible. The original plan reveals a wider group of funerary monuments all linked together. The original dolmen (the one that's visible today) is a large monument, the chamber and the corridor have about 20 metres/ 66 feet and is integrated in a complex structure with about 40 metres/ 131 feet in diameter. This specific structure consists of a closed chamber covered by a large top slab. The corridor is about 16m/ 52 feet long, the longest of the current Portuguese territory and have been built in two phases: initially was made with smaller dimensions and was increased later on. Apparently were added two pillars made out of schist (and not of granite like the rest) in the 1st tomb. Both were profusely carved with "dimples" which fill almost completely all of the visible faces. Outside by the left side of the first corridor pillar were collected human bones that were very deteriorated. It was also found a small set of artifacts, including a diamond shaped metal artefact, probably made in copper. This contemporary individual burial was done by the stretching of the corridor. A small lobby was identified with a base composed of pebbles at the entrance of the corridor. It was also found attached to the structure one second monument usually from the iron age period, a tholos or , an Alentejo variant of this type of monuments. It is located on the left side of the corridor and it's clearly evident that changes had to be made in the layout so that the terminal part could be common with the two monuments. The access to the chamber from the main area of the corridor, where the tholos builders removed one of the cover slabs, was intentionally obstructed by some schist and other kind of stone slabs with variable dimensions. Other two structures were found on the right side of the corridor, also of the same tholos type, and are directly connected to it. One of them is of much smaller proportions.

About the findings
On the first intervention of Georg and Vera Leisner it was not made a full excavation of the site taking in mind its vulnerability. Then it was the subject of an extensive campaign of excavations between 1990 and 1997, directed by V. S. Gonçalves in collaboration with Ana Catarina Sousa which discovered the whole remarkable architectural complex. They also found some stelae engraved in the corridor entrance and a paved court whose excellent condition (including the funeral depositions) allowed to realize that this large orthostatic monument dated from the late 4th/ principles of the 3rd millennium and has been gradually added four datable burial areas in the first half of the 3rd with an extensive set of votive artifacts characterized with a chronology between 2900/ 2500 b.C. Also in relation to the found estate within these megalithic buildings it deserves a special mention to the notable presence of schist plates with geometric decoration and according to some researchers especially those that represent the Mother Goddess, a derivation of the Chalcolithic present figurations in ceramic materials and certain cylinder-idols of this period. In what can be considered as the last phase of these stylistic characteristic megalithic artifacts in this zone of the peninsular territory, the representation of Mother Goddess comes with engraved eyes some of which are sun shaped. 43 schist plaques and other lithic materials were found in total. A significant part of the collection found during excavations was carried out since 1985 by UNIARQ (Archaeology Center of Lisbon University) and so they are the depositories of almost all the estate found in all interventions.

Links and information sources (all texts written in Portuguese)
Webpages where the official classification and asset of this monument is referenced:
- DGPC
- Portal do Arqueólogo

Other pages:
- Blog of researcher Leonor Rocha about Megalithism
- Roteiro do Alqueva (Turistic Guide)

(Information submitted by Bak_teria).
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Anta 2 do Olival da Pega
Anta 2 do Olival da Pega submitted by motist : Anta 2 do Olival da Pega (Vote or comment on this photo)

Anta 2 do Olival da Pega
Anta 2 do Olival da Pega submitted by motist : Anta 2 do Olival da Pega (Vote or comment on this photo)

Anta 2 do Olival da Pega
Anta 2 do Olival da Pega submitted by Bak_teria : Full plan of the Anta 2 with its other adjacent tombs. Today can only be visible the original dolmen but the excavations at site revealed a whole lot more. Picture taken from the blog of the archaeology and prehistory specialist Leonor Rocha. There are also other great photos of the excavation site. Check it here (all information in Portuguese). (Vote or comment on this photo)

Anta 2 do Olival da Pega
Anta 2 do Olival da Pega submitted by Bak_teria : The front view of the half-buried dolmen. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Anta 2 do Olival da Pega
Anta 2 do Olival da Pega submitted by Bak_teria : The 2nd Dolmen of Olival da Pêga in 2015. Still remains in good conditions and also preserves a good part of the tumulus.

Anta 2 do Olival da Pega
Anta 2 do Olival da Pega submitted by motist : Anta 2 do Olival da Pega

Anta 2 do Olival da Pega
Anta 2 do Olival da Pega submitted by motist

Anta 2 do Olival da Pega
Anta 2 do Olival da Pega submitted by motist

Anta 2 do Olival da Pega
Anta 2 do Olival da Pega submitted by motist : Anta 2 do Olival da Pega

Anta 2 do Olival da Pega
Anta 2 do Olival da Pega submitted by Bak_teria : The descriptive plaque near by Anta 2 speaks about the two megalithic monuments (check out also Anta 1). Normally people tend to visit only the 2nd monument but if you follow the the dirt road a bit further ahead you can get to the other one.

Anta 2 do Olival da Pega
Anta 2 do Olival da Pega submitted by Magalhaes : Anta 2 do Olival da Pêga

Do not use the above information on other web sites or publications without permission of the contributor.
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Nearby sites listing. In the following links * = Image available
 200m W 262° Anta 1 do Olival da Pega* Burial Chamber or Dolmen
 1.6km E 86° Well of Telheiro* Holy Well or Sacred Spring
 1.7km SW 230° Menir do Barrocal* Standing Stone (Menhir)
 1.7km ENE 59° Anta da Belhôa* Burial Chamber or Dolmen
 1.8km NE 50° Menir da Bulhoa* Standing Stone (Menhir)
 2.1km NNE 13° Menhir de Outeiro* Standing Stone (Menhir)
 2.4km E 85° Cromeleque do Xarez* Stone Circle
 2.7km W 268° Menir de Santa Margarida* Standing Stone (Menhir)
 4.6km ESE 114° Praia Fluvial de Monsaraz Modern Stone Circle* Modern Stone Circle etc
 6.7km W 264° Rocha dos Namorados* Standing Stone (Menhir)
 9.2km SW 233° Anta das Areias 1* Burial Chamber or Dolmen
 9.3km SW 233° Anta das Areias 2* Burial Chamber or Dolmen
 9.5km W 265° Cromeleque do Monte da Ribeira do Álamo* Stone Circle
 11.2km WSW 239° Menir dos Gorginos* Standing Stone (Menhir)
 12.0km S 173° Museu da Luz* Museum
 12.3km WSW 239° Menir na Herdade das Vidigueiras* Standing Stone (Menhir)
 12.7km W 264° Menires na Herdade dos Perdigões* Stone Circle
 13.1km SW 235° Farisoa* Stone Circle
 15.6km NW 323° Pedra do Galo* Natural Stone / Erratic / Other Natural Feature
 17.4km NNE 25° Anta de Santa Luzia* Burial Chamber or Dolmen
 19.8km W 265° Anta e Menir da Igreja de São Vicente do Pigeiro* Modern Stone Circle etc
 19.9km NNE 13° Sepulturas Medievais de Rosário* Rock Cut Tomb
 21.0km NNW 330° Anta da Vinha* Burial Chamber or Dolmen
 21.7km N 350° Sanctuáry a Endovélico Barrow Cemetery
 22.8km SSW 206° Anta da Torrejona 1* Burial Chamber or Dolmen
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