Xerez Cromlech
Cromeleque do Xerez | |
Cromlech | |
History | |
---|---|
Periods | Neolithic |
Site notes | |
Discovered | 1969 |
Excavation dates | 1972 |
Archaeologists | José Pires Gonçalves; Mário Varela Gomes |
Condition | Good |
Ownership | Portuguese Republic |
Public access | Yes |
The Xerez Cromlech (
Layout
Although it has much in common with megalithic
Menhirs
The 55
1998 excavation
In 1998, as part of the efforts to minimize the impact on Portugal’s heritage resulting from the construction of the dam, Mário Varela Gomes of the New University of Lisbon (Universidade NOVA de Lisboa) excavated the site, identifying a diverse set of highly fragmented items, including lithic artefacts (trapezoids and flakes in silica, silicon shale, quartz and quartzite), and some fragments of ceramic containers, such as decorated cups. At the time, Gomes apparently saw no reason to contradict the findings of Gonçalves.[2] The architectural complexity of the site, the decorations on some of the menhirs and the archaeological materials collected suggested use of the area in the Late Paleolithic, a first phase of construction of the site in the early and middle Neolithic, and redesign in the late Neolithic (including placement of the central menhir). The complex is believed to have been used throughout the Chalcolithic.[5]
Transportation
In November 2001, three months after the dam's floodgates were closed, the whole complex was dismantled and the stones were stored for more than two years. The present location was chosen because of the availability of government land and the fact that there would also be room to build a planned archaeology museum, which remained unbuilt in 2023. The reconstruction of the cromlech was carried out on 24-25 June 2004 to coincide with the summer solstice.[2] [6]
References
- ^ "Cromeleque do Xarêz". Guiadacidade.pt. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
- ^ a b c Pinto de Sá, José. "Único conjunto megalítico transferido do Alqueva pode ser falso". Público. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
- ^ Carlos Silva, António. "A Reinstalação do Cromeleque do Xerez". A Lente Verde. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
- ^ "Cromeleque do Xerez". Município de Reguengos de Monsaraz. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
- ^ a b "Conjunto megalítico da Herdade do Xerez". Patrimonio Cultural. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
- ^ "Cromeleque do Xarez". The Megalithic Portal. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
Media related to Conjunto megalítico da Herdade do Xerez at Wikimedia Commons