Menhir of Bulhoa
Menir da Bulhoa | |
 The menhir in 2019 | |
| Alternative name | Menhir of Abelhoa |
|---|---|
| Location | Monsaraz, Évora, Alentejo, Portugal |
| Coordinates | 38°27′44.1″N 7°22′58.5″W / 38.462250°N 7.382917°W |
| Type | Phallic menhir |
| Height | 4 m (13 ft) |
| History | |
| Founded | c. 3000 BC |
| Periods | Neolithic |
| Site notes | |
| Discovered | 1970 |
| Condition | Restored |
| Ownership | Portuguese Republic |
| Public access | Yes |
The Menhir of Bulhoa (Portuguese: Menir da Bulhoa), also known as the Menhir of Abelhoa, is a granite megalithic standing stone, located near the parish of Monsaraz, in the municipality of the Reguengos de Monsaraz, in the Évora district of the Alentejo region of Portugal. It was classified as a National Monument by the Government of Portugal in 1971.[1][2][3][4][5]
The menhir is thought to date back to between 3500 and 2500 BCE.[6] Overlooked for a long time, it was identified in 1970. At that time it was lying flat on the ground, with the upper part separated from its base, which had been used in a nearby grape press. It was restored to its original shape soon after discovery, with the fracture remaining very noticeable.[1][3]
It is situated on the road between the villages of Outeiro and Telheiro, on a flat area at the base of Monsaraz hill. The menhir is part of a megalithic nucleus that includes the menhirs of Monte da Ribeira and Outeiro and the Xerez Cromlech. It has a phallic appearance, being about four meters high and one meter in diameter. The stone is decorated with engravings depicting the sun's rays, a staff, and wavy and zigzagging lines. However, the fact that it lay on the ground for so long has contributed to the erosion of the carvings. It is not known whether the carvings date back to the menhir's origins or were added subsequently, although the motifs are similar to others found from the Neolithic and Chalcolithic eras.[2][3][4][5][7]
See also
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Menir da Abelhoa / Menir da Bulhoa". SIPA: Sistema de Informação para o Património Arquitetónico. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
- ^ a b "Menir da Bulhoa". Roteiro do Alqueva. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
- ^ a b c "Menir da Bulhoa". The Megalithic Portal. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
- ^ a b "Menir da Abelhoa". Patrimonio Cultural. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
- ^ a b "Menir da Bulhoa ou Belhoa". Município de Reguengos de Monsaraz. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
- ^ "Portal do Arqueólogo". arqueologia.patrimoniocultural.pt. Retrieved 2025-03-14.
- ^ "Menir da Bulhoa". Infopedia. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
Media related to Menir da Abelhoa at Wikimedia Commons
- Buildings and structures completed in the 4th millennium BC
- National monuments in Évora District
- Megalithic monuments in Portugal
- Prehistoric sites in Portugal
- Buildings and structures in Évora
- Stone Age Europe
- Prehistoric art
- Tourist attractions in Évora District
- Menhirs
- 1970 archaeological discoveries
- Archaeological discoveries in Portugal
