Find out more about Pedra da Arca (de Cerqueda) (Malpica)
An anta of mythical dimensions
Pedra da Arca de Cerqueda is one of the largest dolmens in A Costa da Morte.
It preserves the remains of the enormous earth mound that covered the megalith and has a polygonal chamber with seven vertical slabs and a corridor facing east, today barely perceptible.
The most remarkable feature is the huge lid of which only half remains, but which still impresses with its enormous thickness.
Currently, it is displaced from its original location and rests on the vertical slabs of the chamber.
Between 1950 and 1960 it was split, probably to be used as a building material and you can still see the hole that an auger made at that time.
The estimated weight for this lid is nine tons, but originally it could have reached thirteen.
The Ark is part of the extensive tumular necropolis of Cerqueda, in which several nearby mounds can be observed.
In this dolmen, the traditional legend that attributes its construction to a moura that carried the stones on its head while spinning with a spinning wheel and breastfeeding a child was collected.
