MEGALITH c. 6000–4000 BCE
Almendres Cromlech
Guadalupe, Évora, Portugal · 38°33'N 8°03'W
Egg-shaped stone enclosure · Stones: 1.5–2.5m
Equinoctial sunrise / Aldebaran
One of the oldest megalithic complexes in Europe, predating Stonehenge by two millennia. Approximately 95 monoliths arranged in two concentric ovals on a gentle slope amid cork oak woodland.
ALIGNMENT
The elongated axis aligns with the spring equinox sunrise. Individual stones may track the rising of Aldebaran and other bright stars. The phased construction over two millennia suggests evolving astronomical knowledge.
STANDING STONE SURVEY