Tholos de El Romeral

The Dolmen de El Romeral in Antequera (Andalusia ) is one of the most important buildings of Neolithic architecture in Europe.

Location

The dolmen of El Romeral is about 2.5 kilometers northeast of the town of Antequera. The round grave mound is surrounded by a ring of cypress trees.

Dating

Even in the 20th century, it was believed that to be attributed to the three large stone graves in the area of Antequera ( Cueva de Menga, Viera Dolmen de and the dolmen of El Romeral ) of the same epoch. Meanwhile, advocates the research a widely spaced dating between the first two ( around 3800 BC) and the construction of El Romeral whose construction is now recognized around 1800 BC and attributed to the wider culture of Los Millares, whose center However, more than 200 kilometers is located further east. The main reasons are - in addition to the different stone material - the floor plans of the grave chambers around the Dolmen of El Romeral, whereas they are designed rectangular in the other two buildings.

Architecture

The dolmen of El Romeral is a hill grave consisting of a long corridor whose walls are stacked from small rubble and its ceilings are made of megalithic plates, and - separated by a Megalithportal - two consecutive round tholos chambers at its end. The larger chamber has a diameter of approximately 4.20 meters and is built in the same way as the course - but here is a clear inward projecting construction ( corbelled ) observe that is covered up by a Megalithplatte; the soils of the Ganges and the main chamber are made of rammed earth. In with a diameter of only about 2 meters significantly smaller, increased by about 70 centimeters second chamber there is a kind of altar; In addition, the floor of the small room is covered with stone slabs. In the Dolmen of El Romeral remains have been found of bones and grave goods.