Rocks, solidity, majesty… these are some of the words that come to our mind when thinking of the Talayotic culture, the Menorcan culture, a period in history that dates back to the end of the Bronze Age until the Iron Age.
Still today, with our technology and knowledge, we amaze at the mystery of imagining how those first Menorcan settlers managed to lift such huge stone slabs. The expression “Talayotic culture” comes from the word “talayot” that is used to describe the prehistoric sturdy constructions in the shape of stone towers several meters high and large scattered around the Menorcan landscape.
Similarly, what are known as “taulas” –“table” in Catalan- were given this name by early experts as they appeared to be “tables for giants”, due to their colossal proportions, several meters high and weighing tons.
The fact that Menorca, over its mere 700 square kilometres of surface area, is home to more than 1,500 pre-historical monuments, makes it a true open-air museum. Hence, Menorca has become a candidate as a World Heritage site by UNESCO.
From its truly impressive list, there are a few sites that especially deserve a visit, which are: the Naveta des Tudons, thanks to its excellent conservation condition, located very close to Ciutadella. It is known that it was used for funerary purposes, as during the excavations carried out, over one hundred human remains were discovered.
Also in Ciutadella, we find one of the most amazing necropolis or cemeteries in Menorca, that of Cala Morell. It includes 14 caves carved out of the rock thousands of years ago by the first settlers of the island.
Next, the Torre d’en Galmés talayotic settlement with a surface area of six hectares is the largest in Menorca and even in the Balearic Islands, located on a hill in the municipal area of Alaior. This is a prehistoric area that in a way governed the rest of villages on the island. It reached its peak from 1300 BC until the Roman era, sheltering nearly a thousand individuals.
So, have no doubts! Menorca will certainly be a dream come true both for archaeology buffs as well as those of us who simply wish to expand our knowledge in a natural, very well preserved environment. Come and visit Menorca!