Contrary to what has long been thought, the megalithic tombs of Alcalar, in Portimão, do not have a solar orientation, but a lunar orientation. "There is a theory that these tombs are oriented towards the first full moon of spring, after the Equinox, the same one that still determines the date of Easter" revealed Rui Parreira, an archaeologist who has worked for many years in Alcalar, in statements to Sul Informação.
In other words, in addition to guiding the entrance of the monumental stone tombs to the east, the men who lived in the Alcalar region around 5000 years ago and built these funerary monuments, chose to return them to that full spring moon. Why?
As they lived in prehistoric times and left no written records, researchers can only speculate on the reasons for this. There are megalithic tombs, like those at Newgrange, Ireland, which are oriented towards the sun, others towards the autumnal equinox, this one towards the spring full moon.
It is all this and much more that will be discussed on Saturday, September 29, between 21 pm and midnight, in Alcalar, in what will be the first edition of the “A Night in Prehistory” initiative.
Rui Parreira will talk about aspects related to archeology, the cult of the dead and the lives of prehistoric men who lived in this area of the interior of the current municipality of Portimão for five millennia, while Francisco Ponceano, professor at the Manuel Teixeira Gomes Secondary School and grande enthusiast of his astronomy club, with a telescope oriented to the firmament, he will discover the stars.
On a full moon night, the stars and planets will not be so easily visible, but with the help of experts, you can travel back in time.
The night will bring even more surprises such as the “sounds of prehistory”, produced from instruments built with natural materials and products, similar to those that the primitive inhabitants of Alcalar would use, to which the unexpected sonorities coming from the Group's voices are associated. Adágio Coral, giving the space of these monuments a surprising and unique atmosphere.
«It is assumed that, in Pre-History, one would try to imitate the sounds of nature, the sounds of animals. And this is a bit of what conductor António Alves has been rehearsing with the Coral Adágio”, reveals Isabel Soares, archaeologist at the Portimão Museum.
Without wanting to reveal too much the surprises that await those who visit Alcalar on the night of 29 September, the archaeologist goes on to say that the space will be «illuminated with torches and will be punctuated with one or another fireplace». And who knows if there won't be the good smell of roasted meat there...
Recreations throughout the day
But this nighttime trip will only be the culmination of a day full of activities at the Megalithic Monuments of Alcalar, within the framework of the European Heritage Days.
The team from the Portimão Museum, dressed to the nines, in furs, rustic fabrics and disheveled hair, will present aspects of the daily life of the prehistoric community that inhabited that place some five thousand years ago.
This recreation involves the active participation of visitors in the various workshops of pottery, weaving, hunting with bow and arrow, grinding, creating ornaments, moving large blocks of stone, “sounds of prehistory” and guided visits to the monuments.
The archeologist Isabel Soares, from the Portimão Museum, emphasizes that these recreations “are an extraordinary way to bring the population closer to the archaeological remains”.
“This is interesting for everyone, but especially for the kids. Every kid who participates in our activities gets to understand what was the Late Neolithic, the Chalcolithic, the funerary monuments», she adds, enthusiastically.
Throughout the day and night, entrance to the Alcalar Interpretation Center will be free, allowing all interested parties to participate in the activities of this partnership held between the Municipality of Portimão/Museu de Portimão and the Regional Directorate of Culture of the Algarve, with the special support of the Manuel Teixeira Gomes School and the Grupo Coral Adágio.
For more information:
Portimão Museum – Tel. 282 405 230 / email: [email protected]
Facebook: facebook.com/museudeportimao
Alcalar Interpretation Center - Tel. 282 471 410
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