Neolithic Megalithic Transport - Lessons from Portugal

Lessons from Portugal on the choice of megaliths for neolithic monuments: "the nearest ones were not used as unique collection site"  Ignoring some local suitable rocks they chose others from further away for apparent "aesthetic/symbolic reasons".

Roundtheworld, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

'Moving megaliths in the Neolithic - a multi analytical case study'  (pdf)

Boaventura, Rui & Moita, Patricia & Pedro, Jorge & Mataloto, Rui & Almeida, Luís & Nogueira, Pedro & Maximo, Josephine & Pereira, André & Santos, José Francisco & Ribeiro, Sara. (2020). Moving megaliths in the Neolithic - a multi analytical case study of dolmens in Freixo-Redondo (Alentejo, Portugal). 10.2307/j.ctv1zckz4z.4.   In book: Megaliths and Geology Chapter: 1Publisher: Archaeopress Publishing Ltd

"Conclusions:

For the studied dolmens - group of Freixo, Godinhos and Candeeira - it were identified nearest mesoscopically compatible outcrops, that is, at mesoscale are compatible with the slabs from megaliths. The distances from dolmen to mentioned outcrop varies between 150 m (e.g. dolmen Quinta do Freixo 1) and ~780 m (e.g. dolmen Casas Novas1). Through field, petrographic and multi-elemental geochemical obtained data, it is noticed that almost never, the nearest ones were not used as unique collection site... 

.. The complete match including size, shape, petrography and geochemistry was obtained for several dolmens providing for group of Freixo, distances between 800 and 3500 m....

It is not possible to attribute a reason for one’s provenances to the detriment of another outcrop. It could be related to the immediate availability of the material (loosened blocks) but nevertheless, the gabbro-diorites in the area were not chosen, at group of Freixo, for building purposes. Apparently for aesthetic/symbolic reasons since this lithology occurs as loosened blocks and presents similar sizes/ shapes to those found in medium dolmens of granodiorite. Confirmation of the use of certain outcrops by communities from the Neolithic period will be possible through excavation work."

This careful choice and collection of specific megaliths in Portugal supports the earlier work of Pope and Miranda which states and then concludes.

"It is true that some megalith stones were imported. Kalb (1996) stated that specific types of stone were imported over distances up to 8 km for megaliths at Vale de Rodrigo (southwest of the Almendres and Zambujeiro sites). This was consistent with our observations. particularly at Crornleque dos Almendres. where several types of granite were noted. Criado Boado and Fabregas Valcarce (994) contend that adjacent outcrops were seldom used as quarries for megaliths in Galicia. However. minimal damage to surface weathering features on most megalith stones (discussed below) suggested that the stones were not dragged or rolled long distances (at least without the aid of sledges or other mechanical aids)." 

 "Naturally weathered outcrops provided material for these early megalith monuments, a practice possibly used in megalith construction across western Europe. Lack of damage to superficial weathering features suggests that, despite evidence of  importation into locations of differing lithology, the megalith stones were not transported long distances, or alternately, were transported with great care. 

Pope, G. A., & Miranda, V. C. A geomorphology of megaliths: Neolithic landscapes in the Alto Alentejo, Portugal. Middle States Geographer, 32, 110-124.