Imagine run into in a 42-foot-long monument that is over 5,000 years old. A time capsule in an astonishing state of preservation, reflecting how our ancestors lived thousands of years ago. Although it sounds like an archaeologist’s wet dream, it is a real discovery. A team of archaeologists from the University of Cádiz (UCA), Andalusia, Spain, has unearthed a megalithic tomb in a state of preservation never before seen in the area.
This dolmen is located in Teba, Málaga, in La Lentejuela necropolis.
What is a dolmen?
A dolmen is a giant stone burial structure. In other words, it is a megalith. This particular dolmen is 13 m long; it is one of the largest and most complete monuments in the entire region of Andalusia, Spain. The vertical slabs alone are over 2 m high (as seen in the picture). Inside this monument are internal compartments, which are the rosaries for collective burials, and the tumulus, which is a mound of sand without stones that protected the tomb in perfect condition until it was opened now.
Funerary practices have changed a lot: in the Copper Age (third millennium BC), burials were usually collective, which is why the skeletal remains of multiple individuals are found. Collective burial was not a sign of contempt for the deceased, but rather a crucial rite to affirm lineage, community belonging, and connection to ancestors. Today, it is still comforting to know that our relatives and loved ones were not buried in the same cemetery.
The Treasure of the Dolmen
Not only is the Ensi monument in perfect condition, but the objects inside it are also almost intact. Apart from the ancient bones, objects have been found that could be classified as “funeral offerings.”
As with the Egyptians, many societies throughout human history have believed it appropriate to bury their dead with useful objects that would serve them in the afterlife. That is why large arrowheads, blades, and even an axe have been found in this monument. A whole inventory of carefully carved flint pieces that would be useful in the next life. Researchers Eduardo Vijande and Serafín Becerra are overjoyed to be able to study “ways of life and beliefs” in unprecedented detail, as these flint tools are of advanced lithic technology.
In addition to the tools, they have found more than just local materials. Items made out of amber, ivory, and seashells reflect internal trade over hundreds of kilometers. They are evidence that trade routes already existed in the Copper Age. It also demonstrated the social importance of those buried there if they were shrouded with these exotic objects.
Archeology in Málaga
This surprising discovery has earned a place in the archaeological record of southern Spain. This large monument defines the cultural complexity of the humans who inhabited the Iberian Peninsula 5,000 years ago. For now, researchers at the University of Cádiz will continue working to analyze the rest of the artifacts and the structure.
Although this Copper Age monument is not yet open to the public, there are other alternatives if you are an English speaker, live in Málaga, and are interested in archaeology. The Málaga Museum, located in the Palacio de la Duana, has an archaeology section that traces the history of the city from prehistory to the Muslim period. Admission is free for European Union citizens, and there are signs in Spanish and English.
If you want to visit other dolmens, there is an impressive megalithic complex in Antequera that is open to the public and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It consists of the Menga Dolmen, the Viera Dolmen, and the Tholos of El Romeral. These also have interpretation centers and tours with information available in English.
