Menhir do Patalou [Menir do Patalou] Standing Stone (Menhir) : The Megalithic Portal and Megalith Map:

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Submitted by Bak_teria on Monday, 26 October 2015 Page Views: 4589

Neolithic and Bronze AgeSite Name: Menhir do Patalou Alternative Name: Menir do Patalou
Country: Portugal Distrito: Portalegre Type: Standing Stone (Menhir)
Nearest Town: Nisa Nearest Village: Nisa
Latitude: 39.482658N Longitude: 7.593869W
Condition:

5	Perfect
4	Almost Perfect
3	Reasonable but with some damage
2	Ruined but still recognisable as an ancient site
1	Pretty much destroyed, possibly visible as crop marks
0	No data.
-1	Completely destroyed

5 Ambience:

5	Superb
4	Good
3	Ordinary
2	Not Good
1	Awful
0	No data.

5 Access:

5	Can be driven to, probably with disabled access
4	Short walk on a footpath
3	Requiring a bit more of a walk
2	A long walk
1	In the middle of nowhere, a nightmare to find
0	No data.

5 Accuracy:

5	co-ordinates taken by GPS or official recorded co-ordinates
4	co-ordinates scaled from a detailed map
3	co-ordinates scaled from a bad map
2	co-ordinates of the nearest village
1	co-ordinates of the nearest town
0	no data

5

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Bak_teria visited on 24th Oct 2015 - their rating: Cond: 5 Amb: 5 Access: 5

rrmoser have visited here

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**Menhir do Patalou** submitted by Bak_teria : An approximate view of the monument. Although its not possible to see it well in this picture, this monument have some small dimples and engraved serpentiform lines in it. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Situated in the Tapada of Bajanca, Portalegre (Portugal), the Menhir of Patalou is one of the most bulky menhirs explicitly phallic in the Iberian Peninsula and was found tumbled East (110º). This beautiful monument was originally found by João Francisco Lopes, a local hunter. Archaeological works were made in July of 2015, promoted by the Municipality of Nisa and by the Archaeological Laboratory of the University of Évora, directed by archaeologist and teacher Jorge de Oliveira, leading to its study and rehabilitation. This excavation allowed to collect coals from the grounds in its base that were subjected to radiocarbon dating and inform us that this menhir was raised more than 6200 years ago.

This may prove the idea that these menhir monuments are in fact oldest than the antas phenomena. Strangely this monument is yet to be classified.

About the size, shape and decoration
With a lenght of 4 meters and a weight of around 7 tons it was cut, transported and raised by the first neolithic communities in the context of ancient fertility cults. From the profound decoration engraved that this menhir originally had there are still traces of serpentine lines, as well as some enigmatic dimples opened in later times.

About the rehabilitation
In order to preserve its deployment pit and the cork tree next to it, the Menhir of Patalou was now reraised six meters north. A little granite mark signs the original site of the deployment. There is an ongoing rehabilitation project created by the DGPC called Meganisa. This was the first monument that has been saved from the degradation of time. There are plans for this same project to come and rehabilitate the dolmens of Saragonheiros, São Gens and Senhora da Redonda. The idea is to make a well structured Megalithic Route to enhance the cultural heritage of the region. Now it's just a matter of money, time and good will.

Great part of this text was taken from the descriptive plaque located near by the monument.

Links and other information sources (all texts written in Portuguese):
- Portal do Arqueólogo
- Jornal de Nisa Blog

Aditional information:
- Follow the signs by the road.
- You are entering in private property but the access is possible.
- The entrance to the zone of the monument is blocked by walls and fences, they were essentially made to demarcate the land and not allow the escape of livestock. The access is possible by opening two large wood gates. When entering in demarcated land never forget to close the access gate of the location, you need to be very aware of this rule because cattle can escape.
- There are no signs prohibiting us from entering so the access can be open but be careful when you explore every time you see this red plaques that alert you for the Hunting Zones. Remind yourself that usually hunters can only hunt at selected hunting days (Thursdays, Sundays and on public holidays).
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Nearby sites listing. In the following links * = Image available
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