Almendres Cromlech
November 18, 2012
Photographer: Joao Abecasis Fernandes; Joao's Web site
Summary Authors: Joao Abecasis Fernandes; Stu Witmer
The photo above showing an approximately 100 ft (30 m) by 200 ft (60 m) oval shaped Neolithic/Chalcolithic rock formation known as Almendres Cromlech was taken near Evora, Portugal. Almendres Cromlech dates back about 8,000 years and is one of the oldest monuments in the world. Its quartzite standing stones are estimated to be approximately 2,000 years older than Stonehenge. The site was rediscovered by Henrique Leonor Pina in 1966. Because the double concentric formation of the stones seems to be aligned toward different equinoctial directions, it’s possible that it had some astronomical significance to its builders. Another theory holds that it may relate to the number of days in a season or the position of the moon. In any case, it's surmised that their geometrical positioning was perhaps associated with sacred rituals. Photo taken on September 1, 2012.