Location and interior of the Menga dolmen. Credit: Scientific progress (2024). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adp1295
A multi-institutional team of historians, geologists, physicists and archaeologists in Spain has developed a theory to explain how a Neolithic culture could have built the Menga Dolmen, an ancient structure composed of stones weighing up to 150 metric tons.
In an article published in the journal Scientific progressThe group developed theories describing how each part of the structure was built and why they think certain techniques were used.
The Dolmen of Menga is a megalithic monument built into the side of a small hill in the southern part of what is now Spain. Previous research has dated its construction to around 6,000 years ago. Previous research has also shown that the Neolithic people who built the monument must have been highly skilled engineers not only to move such large stones, but also to place them in a stable manner, allowing the structure to remain in place for thousands of years in almost the same condition as when it was built.
The dolmen consists of stone walls and a ceiling supported by stone pillars. All of its stones are larger than those used to build Stonehenge. Over the years, many theories have been proposed to explain how a primitive culture could have built such a massive and complex structure. In this new effort, the team has conducted what it describes as the most comprehensive proposal to date.
The research team suggests that the stones were cut at a site about 1 kilometer from the monument and then dragged on sleds along a wooden track. Once part of the hill was dug out, workers dragged the rocks to the site to build the walls, wedging them firmly into the bedrock using counterweights and ramps.
The stones were placed at a slight angle inwards using levers, which reduced the size of the roof and gave the monument a trapezoidal shape. The stones of the pillars were then placed in the same way. The work was completed by placing massive stones on top, to serve as a roof.
The researchers emphasize that each stage of the monument’s construction required a high degree of precision to ensure a perfect fit between all components. The stones were also interlocked, which ensures their strength over a long period of time.
More information:
José Antonio Lozano Rodríguez et al, First Colossal Stone Science and Engineering at Menga, a Neolithic Dolmen (Antequera, Spain), Scientific progress (2024). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adp1295
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