Early science and colossal stone engineering in Menga, a Neolithic dolmen (Antequera, Spain)

Megaliths represent the earliest form of monumental stone architecture. The earliest megalithic chambers in Europe appeared in France in the fifth millennium BCE. Menga is the oldest of the great dolmens in Iberia (approximately 3800 to 3600 BCE). Menga's capstone #5 weighing 150 tons is the largest stone ever moved in Iberia as part of the megalithic phenomenon and one of the largest in Europe. The research presented here proposes a completely innovative interpretation of how this colossal monument was built. It comprises a geoarchaeological analysis encompassing three major components: (i) the angles of the planes of each stone, (ii) the stratigraphic polarity of each structural element, and (iii) the depth of the foundations. Our results show that Menga is a unique example of creative genius and early science among Neolithic societies. It was designed as a completely original engineering project, for which we know of no precedents in Iberia.

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Publication Details

Journal
Science Advances
Published
2024-08-23
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adp1295
Citations
4
Primary Topic
Archaeological and Geological Studies
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
11.70

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article

Early science and colossal stone engineering in Menga, a Neolithic dolmen (Antequera, Spain)

Raquel Montero Artús, Antonio M. Álvarez‐Valero, E. Fraile‐Nuez, Jesús M. Arrieta et al.
4 citations
Science Advances
Archaeological and Geological Studies
11.70
article

Early science and colossal stone engineering in Menga, a Neolithic dolmen (Antequera, Spain)

Raquel Montero Artús, Antonio M. Álvarez‐Valero, E. Fraile‐Nuez, Jesús M. Arrieta, Leonardo García Sanjuán, José Antonio Lozano Rodríguez, Francisco Martínez‐Sevilla, F.J. Jiménez-Espejo, Antonio García‐Alix
article en
4 citations

Abstract

Megaliths represent the earliest form of monumental stone architecture. The earliest megalithic chambers in Europe appeared in France in the fifth millennium BCE. Menga is the oldest of the great dolmens in Iberia (approximately 3800 to 3600 BCE). Menga's capstone #5 weighing 150 tons is the largest stone ever moved in Iberia as part of the megalithic phenomenon and one of the largest in Europe. The research presented here proposes a completely innovative interpretation of how this colossal monument was built. It comprises a geoarchaeological analysis encompassing three major components: (i) the angles of the planes of each stone, (ii) the stratigraphic polarity of each structural element, and (iii) the depth of the foundations. Our results show that Menga is a unique example of creative genius and early science among Neolithic societies. It was designed as a completely original engineering project, for which we know of no precedents in Iberia.

Science AdvancesVol. 10(34)
Universidad de Granada (ES), Universidad de Salamanca (ES), Universidad de Alcalá (ES), Instituto Español de Oceanografía (ES), Instituto Andaluz de Ciencias de la Tierra (ES), Universidad de Sevilla (ES)
Fundación Bancaria Caixa d'Estalvis i Pensions de Barcelona
Sustainable cities and communities
Openalex Percentile: Top 2%
Archaeological and Geological Studies
11.70
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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