Monte da Boiça 1/ Anta da Pata do Cavalo

Anta/Dolmen - Neolithic e Chalcolithic (Copper Age) (8009)
The Pata do Cavalo dolmen is located at the top of a gentle hill, on the eastern flank of the Serra de Grândola, with good visibility towards the Lousal mines region. This dolmen is located on an isolated position, but part of a landscape with an expressive megalithic presence. This megalithic monument consists of a sub-circular shaped chamber (6m in diameter), formed by nine orthostates, eight of which are preserved, around 2m tall, greatly tilted towards the outside and a corridor, 2m in length, formed by two orthostates on each side, facing south east. These morphological characteristics, as in other monuments of the Lousal area, resemble tholos monuments, however, the orthostates' configuration and impressiveness makes it very difficult to associate them with a false dome cover. Diverse artefacts were recovered inside the dolmen, composed by ceramic containers (plate edges, bowls of simple spherical and carinated type), a quartzite puncher; blades made of different types of raw material (shale, flint, limestone), flint flakes and decorated shale plaque fragments. The architectural features of this monument and the materials collected inside it allow to chronologically frame them between the Late Neolithic and the Early Chalcolithic (3500 - 2500 BC).

Overview

Monument integrated in the Geomegalithic Lousal Tour, with access conditions and explanatory panels on site.

Visit conditions

Free entrance with information

Timetables

Contacts

Documents

    How to get there? Best practices

    Best practices

    Good practices when visiting archaeological sites

    To visit an archaeological site is to connect with our origins, to understand our path and evolution as a species integrated in the environment, and to respect and safeguard our heritage so that future generations can also visit and enjoy it.

    Walking the paths and enjoying the structures and archaeological pieces that survived over time, fosters the understanding of what is different, but also of what is common among different populations: basically, what identifies us as Homo Sapiens.

    More than just vestiges and ruins of the past, archaeological sites showcase our capacity for creative thought, adaptation, interconnection, comprehension and resilience. Without these traits we would not have been successful as cultural beings participating in an ongoing evolutionary process. These sites also allow to consider choices made in the past thus contributing for decisions in the present to be made with greater awareness and knowledge.

    Archaeological sites are unique and irreplaceable. These sites are fragile resources vulnerable to changes driven by human development. The information they keep, if destroyed, can never be recovered again.

    As such, the Directorate-General for Cultural Heritage (DGPC) invites all visitors to enjoy the beauty and authenticity of these sites, while helping to preserve them for future generations by adopting the following set of good practices:

    • Respect all signs; 
    • Do not try to access fenced areas; 
    • Do not climb, sit or walk on archaeological structures and remains; 
    • Respect areas where archaeological excavations are being carried out, not disturbing them; 
    • Do not collect materials or sediments;
    • Do not write or make graffiti on archaeological structures; 
    • Put the garbage in appropriate containers. If none exist, take the garbage with you until you find a suitable container; 
    • Leave the archaeological site as you found it; 
    • Do not drive bicycles or motor vehicles over archaeological sites; 
    • Respect and protect the plants and animals that live in the areas surrounding archaeological sites;
    • Report signs of vandalism or destruction to DGPC or Regional Directorates of Culture (DRC);
    • Share the visiting experience and the archaeological sites, as a way of raising awareness to their preservation and making them better known;
    • Do not buy archaeological materials and report to public security authorities, DGPC or DRC, if you suspect that archaeological materials may be for sale.

    Further information:

    AIA / ATTA (2013) – Guide to best practices for archaeological tourism. 

    Raposo, J. (2016) – Código de conduta para uma visita responsável a sítios arqueológicos. In Sítios arqueológicos portugueses revisitados: 500 arqueossítios ou conjuntos em condições de fruição pública responsável. Al-madan, 2ª série, p. 20 – 77. 

    DGPC contacts

    Phone: +351213614200 | Email: informacaoarqueologica@dgpc.pt

     


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