How Did The ANCIENTS Build The DOLMEN OF MENGA?

The Dolmen of Menga is one of the most magnificent megalithic structures in Europe. Dating back more than 5,000 years, the ancient builders of this burial monument transported and placed enormous megaliths including one weighing approximately 150 tons. Unlike other Iberian monuments it was not oriented to the solstices, but towards a natural land formation where a cave full of Neolithic art has been found.

A new study has analysed the logistical and engineering complexities that would have gone into the construction of the Menga Dolmen and has found that the ancient megalith builders were incredibly sophisticated. Furthermore, these Neolithic engineers appear to have been innovators since there don't seem to be simpler versions of the dolmen in the area that would show a gradual improvement in construction skills over time.

#ancienthistory #megalithic #neolithic

✨ IN THIS EPISODE

00:00 Introduction
00:47 The Antequera Megalithic Site
05:00 The Dolmen of Menga

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✨ REFERENCES

José Antonio Lozano Rodríguez, et al. ,Early science and colossal stone engineering in Menga, a Neolithic dolmen (Antequera, Spain).Sci. Adv.10,eadp1295 (2024).DOI:10.1126/sciadv.adp1295

García Sanjuán L, Medialdea A, Balsera Nieto V, et al. A multimethod approach to the genesis of Menga, a World Heritage megalith. Quaternary Research. 2023;111:1-20. doi:10.1017/qua.2022.33

García Sanjuán, L., Montero Artús, R. and Mora Molina, C., 2021. Waterscapes through time. The Menga well as a unique hydraulic resource in its geographic and historical context. Human Made Environments.

✨ PHOTOGRAPH CREDITS

CC-BY-NC 4.0 DEED https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... Images about the Dolmen of Menga engineering research, credit: José Antonio Lozano Rodríguez, et al., in the paper referenced above.

CC BY 4.0 DEED https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Images about the Dolmen of Menga dating research, credit: García Sanjuán L, et al., in the paper referenced above.

CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Dolmen of Menga entrance and area in front of it, credit: Pedro J Pacheco
Alignment towards La Peña de los Enamorados, credit: Malopez 21

CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Dolmen of Menga entrance, credit: Grez
Carnac alignments, credit: Pinpin
Newgrange, credit: Ingo Winkler
Well inside the Dolmen of Menga, credit: Juan de Vojníkov

CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Dolmen of Menga pillars, credit: Ángel M. Felicísimo 

Public domain
Cromeleque dos Almendres