Artificial Caves of Casal do Pardo

The four Artificial caves of Casal do Pardo, also known as the Caves of Quinta do Anjo, were neolithic tombs [1]. They are situated in Palmela municipality in the Setúbal District, of Portugal, about 25 km south of the capital of Lisbon [1]. The caves were the first of their type to be discovered in Portugal with the site being identified as a result of limestone extraction on the site [1]. They consist of four independent tombs or hypogea cut in soft, miocene limestone, using stone tools [1]. All of the four caves were dug out around 3000 BCE, and were probably used and re-used until around 2000 BCE [1]. The two best-preserved tombs of this complex contain a larger circular domed burial chamber, 4–5 metres in diameter and with a height of up to 2.30 metres [1]. The excavations at the caves have discovered a wide variety of items, including microliths, arrowheads, axes and adzes of polished stone, and flint blades, as well as a variety of polished stone artifacts, ritual objects, limestone idols, shale items and bone buttons [1].