Cromeleque dos Almendres 1 by johnsakura
The Megalithic enclosure of Almendres, one of the first public monuments in the human history, comprises the largest group of menhirs to have been erected on the Iberia Peninsula, and one of the most important in Europe.This megalithic monument originally consisted of more than a hundred monoliths. Recet escavations have made possible the detection of various phases of construction throughout the Neolithic period (the 5th to the 4th millennia BC) to the point where it aquired an appearence similar to that which is found today.
There are 92 menhirs, with different shapes and dimensions, some small, rudely shaped blocks, others of greater size, which have given the place the name of Alto das Pedras Talhas.
They form 2 enclosures erected in different, distinct eras, geminated, and aligned to accord with the equinoxes. 10 of the monoliths are decorated, exhibitiong reliefs or engravings, with 4 of them just discernibly displaying dimple marks.
It was a monument which had religious functions and was problably also a primitive astronomical observatory.
