Dolmen of Pedra Branca

The Dolmen of Pedra Branca is a burial tomb, used in the late Neolithic and, subsequently, in the late Chalcolithic periods [1]. It is situated in the Vale de Figueira in the parish of Melides, which is in the Grândola municipality of Setubal [1]. The burial chamber's roof (in stone or wooden slabs) was supported in the middle by a large, 2.2 meter tall, quartzite pillar, which had the structural function of sharing the weight of the crypt's roof with the other supports [1]. The main polygonal chamber, measuring 3.85 m x 3.4 m, reached by an entrance corridor, was covered by transverse slabs [1]. A trapezoidal chamber on the left side was a separate compartment, measuring 3.5m x 1.5m [1]. In addition to skeletons, many funerary offerings have been discovered [1]. The dolmen is situated high on a hill that visually dominates the surrounding Vale de Figueira area [1].