Dolmen of Menga

The Cueva de Menga is a gallery grave near Antequera in Andalusia, which belongs to the important megalithic monuments in Europe. Together with the Dolmen de Viera, 2.5 km away and the Dolmen de El Romeral it forms an important group of Neolithic architecture.

Etymology

In the Balearic Islands, the term referred Cueva ( the Spanish name for " cave " is used for numerous megalithic sites ) at the same time a kind of artificial rock-cut tombs.

Location

The hill of the Cueva de Menga grave lies in a wide valley basin on the northeastern outskirts of Antequera; the Dolmen de Viera is just 70 meters away.

Architecture

The tumulus of the Cueva de Menga has a diameter of 25 m and is about four feet high. A comparatively short hallway leads into a large, almost semicircular closed and divided by three central pillars space; Annex spaces are not available. The area covered by megalithic hill is made up of 31 sculpted accurately and almost seamlessly assembled blocks with a total weight of 1,600 tons; the largest ceiling panels weigh around 180 tons. In the signposted as a dolmen site system is in type to a gallery grave. The hill and the entire stone architecture are well preserved until today.

Function

Since neither bones nor grave goods were found in the interior of the building, its use is not without controversy as a tomb. The idiosyncratic and non-lockable architecture that one - compared to other megalithic - creates large room could have served as a cult or venue. In addition, a use change can not be excluded.