Anta Grande do Zambujeiro de Valverde

The Anta Grande do Zambujeiro is situated in Valverde, in the lovely Évora department, in the heart of the vast Alentejo region.

This megalithic monument, classified as a National Monument, is one of the largest Anta’s in Europe, and the largest known in all the Iberian Peninsula.

This is a region occupied by men since remote periods, with several pre-historical vestiges and megalithic testimonies of great importance.

This Burial Chamber, or Dolmen, was discovered back in 1965 and was later archaeologically studied and restored.
It would have been used by the Communities of the Neolithic Period as a Burial Chamber and as a homage to the deceased, serving probably also as a Sanctuary.

The set has around 50 meters of diameter, with the polygonal main room 6 meters high and a corridor with 12 meters long, 2 meters high and 1,5 meters width.
The monument was originally covered by a huge tumulus, with more than 50 meters diameter. Here was found an important archaeological collection containing vestiges and pieces of ritual artefacts, accessories, ceramics, among many other, nowadays preserved in Évora’s Archaeology Museum.

The Monument is nowadays covered with a corrugated tin roof, which spoils the view, but protects the monument.