Megaliths of Spain and Portugal

The ancient megalithic structures in Spain.

translated from Spanish

Among the parishes of Cabana Maior and Soajo belonging to the village of Arcos de Valdevez, are some of the most interesting megaliths of the Serra da Peneda-Gerês. In this article I will focus on the barrows of Chã de Mezio, a vast plain of great beauty located about 700 m above sea level between Gião Guidão and mountains.

The megalithic tombs of Arcos de Valdevez were studied by Felix Alves Pereira and, more recently, Baptista A.M. In the early twentieth century, Alves Pereira identified more than 60 tumuli or dolmens in the Serra de Soajo, describing at least 46 of them that were distributed in small groups along about 10 km of the left bank of the River Vez.

In the Alto de Gião two dolmens, one in the large set of rock art that exists in this summit. In the Chã de Mezio there are at least 16 burial mounds, among which are the following:

 Known as the Anta Mezio and located 640 m above sea level, it is formed by polygonal megaliths imbricated on which rests the great flagstone deck, showing also remains oriented corridor East.

The tumulus is large and relatively well preserved, although partly was destroyed by the construction of the N202 road between Cabana Maior and Soajo.

 Located about 200 meters above and 655 meters above sea level, is partially excavated and preserved the polygonal chamber, the large slab of the roof and the corridor remains oriented towards the East.

Polygonal chamber with a small front opening and is composed of a hall formed by two small side and a third granite slabs frontally closed space.

The photographs in this article has been made by Francisco Javier Torres Goberna

Dolmen of Barrosa Lapa Moorish

In the coastal area between Caminha and Viana do Castelo there are a large number of megalithic monuments. The dolmen of Barrosa, also known as Lapa Moors, is located in the center of Vila Praia de Ancora, parish belonging to the municipality of Caminha (Portugal).

It is a large Megalith with a chamber 3.5 m x 3 m and 2 m high, made up of eight stones and a large slab forming the lid.

More info