Anta da Estria

Anta da Estria is a megalithic dolmen set between Belas and Queluz in the Lisbon District of Portugal. It is one of the oldest monuments near the capital, offering a glimpse of people who lived here several thousand years before the common era.

What is Anta da Estria?

A dolmen is a tomb built from large stone blocks. Anta da Estria dates to the Late Neolithic, and datings of human remains suggest it was still in use at the start of the Chalcolithic, the Copper Age. It served as a burial place and, no doubt, as a landmark for the community that raised it. In Portuguese, monuments of this type are called "antas".

How is it built?

Heritage descriptions point to a polygonal chamber cut into the rock, with a corridor leading inside. The capstone is missing, and the upright stones now lie fallen within the chamber. Its condition is rated as poor, so you need a little imagination to picture the original structure. Even so, the layout of chamber and corridor remains readable if you know this type of tomb.

The Antas de Belas

Anta da Estria forms a group with the Anta do Monte Abraão and the Anta da Pedra dos Mouros, collectively known as the Antas de Belas. They were first identified in the 1870s by Carlos Ribeiro, regarded as the "father" of Portuguese prehistoric archaeology. For visitors, it is a chance to compare several tombs from the same region.

A narrow escape

In the 1990s the construction of the A9 motorway nearly destroyed the dolmen. It was eventually folded into the landscaped grounds of a service station, which made it easy to reach from the road. Sources describe access differently, so check current conditions before you go. The site was classified as a National Monument in 1910.

Good to know

Objects found at the Estria site are kept in scientific collections in Portugal, so the place itself is only part of the story. The dolmen is small and does not take long to see, which makes it a handy stop alongside other places around Belas and Queluz, for example on a day trip from Lisbon.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Anta da Estria? Between Belas and Queluz, in the Lisbon District.

How old is it? It dates to the Late Neolithic and early Chalcolithic, based on datings of human remains.

Who identified it? Carlos Ribeiro, a pioneer of Portuguese prehistoric archaeology, in the 1870s.

Is it the only dolmen nearby? No. With the Anta do Monte Abraão and the Anta da Pedra dos Mouros it forms the Antas de Belas group.

Is it well preserved? Its condition is rated poor: the capstone is missing and the upright stones lie inside the chamber.