 The dolmen in 2019 | |
| Location | Lousa,Lisbon, Portugal |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 38°53′09″N9°12′59″W / 38.88583°N 9.21639°W /38.88583; -9.21639 |
| Type | Dolmen |
| History | |
| Material | Stone |
| Founded | c. 3000 BC |
| Periods | Late neolithic |
| Site notes | |
| Excavation dates | 1986, 1991-1994, 1998, 2005-2006 |
| Archaeologists | Gustavo Marques, Florbela Estêvão, Rui Boaventura |
| Public access | Yes |
TheAnta de Carcavelos, located close to the village of Carcavelos near the town ofLousa in the municipality ofLoures in theLisbon District ofPortugal, is a stone agedolmen (burial chamber) or megalithic monument from theChalcolithic period. It is one of many such tombs that have been identified in Portugal.[1][2]
The Anta was a communal grave consisting of asepulchral chamber with a polygonal shape. The remains of the tomb consist of sixcretaceous limestone slabs that originated in the area, which has several sizeable limestoneoutcrops. Five of these slabs are believed to have been part of the burial chamber and the sixth part of the corridor. Near the monument there are other slabs of limestone, one of which of could have been the roof of the chamber.[2][3]
Based on earlier identification by Mesquita Figueiredo andCarlos Ribeiro, the German archaeologistsGeorg and Vera Leisner visited the Anta of Carcavelos in 1944 as part of preparing a systematic inventory of theNeolithic tombs of the Lisbon area. They produced drawings but did not carry out any excavations. Hastened as a result of looting at the site, the first excavations were carried out in 1986 and continued again from 1991-1994, under the supervision of Gustavo Marques of the Loures municipality. Further intermittent excavation was carried out in 1998 and again from 2005-2006 by Florbela Estêvão and Rui Boaventura.[3]
From the studies carried out in 1994, many bones were collected, with over 80 adult males and females believed to have been buried there. Various objects were also found such as flint arrowheads, smooth and decoratedbell-shaped ceramics, dishes, cylindrical idols, and objects of adornment. The items collected came mainly from the interior of the chamber, but some were also found close to the site. In general, the number of items found was significantly lower than those found at other comparable sites in the area, such as theAnta do Monte Abraão. The evaluation of items found suggested a probable initial use of the dolmen as being in the last centuries of the 4th millennium BCE, with an intensification in its use between 3000 and 2600 BCE, this period having been identified using radiocarbon dating on an adult femur and jaw.[1][3]
Preliminary microscopic analysis of human bones indicates cut marks. This suggests that the bodies could have beendisarticulated and/ordefleshed prior to burial in the dolmen, which thus served as anossuary rather than as a repository of bodies. However, archaeologists recognise that further work is required to confirm this.[1]
