Dolmen of Ses Roques Llises

Main article: Prehistory and history of the Balearic Islands: Menorca

The dolmen

Chronology

2500 BC — 1500 BC (Pre-talaiotic)

Dimensions

Tumulus: 7.2 m (length) × 4.3 m (width)

Chamber: 4.2 m (length) × 2.4 m (width) × 2.4 m (height)

Corridor: 2.5 m (length) × 0.7 m (width)

The tomb of Ses Roques Llises belongs to the Dolmen culture, and it was built between 2000 and 1400 BC. Surprisingly, despite being the oldest known dolmen of Menorca, it is the most beautiful and best preserved of the Gymnesian Islands and is only equalled by the Ca Na Costa dolmen on Formentera.

It possesses a rectangular or slightly trapezoidal corridor pointing southwest, with marginal flat stones that lead to a chamber through a stone with an oval perforation. The entire structure was built with large slabs (6 for the chamber) arranged on the bedrock. Of the tumulus that formerly covered the tomb completely or partially, only the northern side of the retaining wall remains.

The site was excavated in 1974, and human remains were found but they were so fragmented it was impossible to assess the number of individuals that were placed in the tomb, as well as their position in the tomb. Along with the skeletal remains, a high number of artefacts were found: ceramics, sometimes decorated with motives, a rectangular bone button, a small bronze knife, a partial bronze dagger, two fragments of bracelets and a conical stone that was interpreted as a possible idol.