Almendres Cromlech
| Cromlech of the Almendres (Cromeleque dos Almendres) | |
| Cromlech (Cromeleque) | |
 The Cromlech of the Almendres overlooking the civil parish of Nossa Senhora de Guadalupe
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| Nickname: Alto das Pedras Talhas | |
| Country |  Portugal |
|---|---|
| Region | Alentejo |
| Sub-region | Alentejo Central |
| District | Évora |
| Municipality | Évora |
| Location | Nossa Senhora de Guadalupe |
| - elevation | 400 m (1,312 ft) |
| - coordinates | 38°33′26.91″N 8°3′40.03″W / 38.5574750°N 8.0611194°WCoordinates: 38°33′26.91″N 8°3′40.03″W / 38.5574750°N 8.0611194°W |
| Length | 0.06 m (0 ft), West-East |
| Width | 0.03 m (0 ft), North-South |
| Architects | unknown |
| Style | Megalithic |
| Material | Granite |
| Discovered | 1966 |
| - Initiated | 6000 BC |
| - Completion | 3000 BC |
| Owner | Portuguese Republic |
| For public | Private |
| Visitation | Open |
| Management | Instituto Gestão do Patrimonio Arquitectónico e Arqueológico |
| Status | Property of Public Interest |
| Listing | Decree No. 735/74; DG 297, 21 December 1974 |
The Cromlech of the Almendres megalithic complex (or Almendres Cromlech), located near Guadalupe, in the civil parish of Nossa Senhora de Guadalupe, municipality of Évora, Portugal, is the largest existing group of structured menhirs in the Iberian Peninsula, and one of the largest in Europe. This archaeological site consists of several megalithic structures: cromlechs, and menhir stones, the first belonging to the so-called "megalithic universe of Évora", with clear parallels to other cromlechs, such as in Portela Mogos in the Montemor-o-Novo.
The construction of these structures date back to the 6th millennium BC, though they were only rediscovered in 1966 by Henrique Leonor Pina, who was proceeding with field work relating to the country's geological charts. The excavation of the site unearthed a series of both megalithic and neolithic construction phases; Almendres I 6000 BC (Early Neolithic), Almendres II 5000 BC (Middle Neolithic), Almendres III 4000 BC (Late Neolithic). The relative chronology of the cromlech and menhirs is extremely complex and covers a period from the Neolithic to Chalcolithic, and it is believed that the monument had a religious/ceremonial purpose, or functioned as a primitive astronomical observatory.
Located off the national roadway from Évora to Montemor-o-Novo, in the civil parish of Nossa Senhora de Guadalupe, it is situated just after the village of Guadalupe, in Herdade dos Almendres. The cromlech is located within the property, 1.5 kilometres southwest, while the menhir is sited on the limits of the residence to the east. The location is a rural area on the southeast flank at a slope facing the sun rise of the Serra de Monfurado, isolated from the local community. A pedestrian trail was defined by the local municipal council, and integrated into the municipality's "megalithic route" that follows the prehistoric remnants through the region.
The complex, organized in a circular pattern, is marked by a forest of about 95 granite monoliths, deposited in small agglomerations. The older (Early Neolithic) are designated by two or three concentric circles of smaller monoliths in the western part of the complex, while the mid (Middle Neolithic) structures consist of two ellipses (irregular but concentric) and large menhirs. In the Late Neolithic phase both structures suffered modifications, transforming into a site for social or religious rituals. Ninety-two of the menhirs form two grounds, which were built and oriented to different directions associated with the Equinox.
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