Friday, May 28, 2010

Cromeleque dos Almendras, Portugal













Cromeleque dos Almendra, or Almendres Cromlech, is a megalith complex outside of Evora, Portugal.  During our recent trip, my mom and my sister and I searched and finally found this place, promptly renaming it "Doan-henge".   [For anyone who doesn't know, my last name is "Doan"].

Undiscovered until 1964 (because it was so damn hard to find!), archaeologists don't know who built it or why, but think it may  have served some sort of religious purpose and functioned as a primitive astronomical observatory.  There are a few other sites like this in the area, one of which features a single large megalith (Menhir Almendres) , and another with a long passageway leading to an underground "room". 

It's not clear to me the difference between the term "megalith" (from the Wiki:  "a large stone that has been used to construct a structure or monument, either alone or together with other stones" and a "menhir" (also from the Wiki:"a large upright standing stone. Menhirs may be found singly as monoliths, or as part of a group of similar stones. Their size can vary considerably; but their shape is generally uneven and squared, often tapering towards the top."   Whatever these rocks are called, there are groupings or singlets of them all over Europe and the rest of the world, some possibly as old as 6,000 or 7,000 years, but definitely as old as 3,000 years.

And to think I had only heard of  Stonehenge (bucket list)!

P.S.  It's Postcard Friendship Friday.  There are a variety of postcard blogs to check out, if you're interested.

7 comments:

  1. These postcards are fascinating! Especially the megalith rocks. Here in Oregon, in the great Columbia Gorge there is a replica of Stonehenge. I suppose millions of years from now, people would have all kinds of things to say about that... lol

    Happy PFF!

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  2. How wonderful! I learned something today reading your post and looking at your cards. Must have been a wonderful trip. I'm with Beth ... wonder what folks will be saying about us?!!! Happy PFF!

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  3. I love visiting megaliths, what great cards. I think the name menhir originated with the 18th century French archaeologists using the Breton term.

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  4. I hadn't heard of this either...very interesting though. Glad you found it!

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  5. I have heard of Stonehedge, but really know nothing about anything else. By golly, a person is never too old to learn. Happy PFF - and a good weekend! Carol

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  6. Those are interesting. It's too bad the picture doesn't have anything to indicate the size.

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  7. What a dqay it was--finding Doan-henge!---or days! Happy memories.

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