6,000-Year-Old Ancient Stone Monument in Spain Surprises Experts with Its Construction

A 6,000-year-old stone monument in Antequera, Spain, is leaving researchers in awe over its advanced construction. Known as the Dolmen of Menga, it has been the focal point of a 10-year-long study that showed evidence of advanced engineering techniques employed by ancient builders, as shared by Yahoo Finance. The megastructures, despite being from the Neolithic period, are thought to rival the techniques in megastructures of more modern eras.

The Dolmen of Menga is a large stone burial site formed with enormous stones, one weighing more than 165 tons. The monument stands over 11 feet tall in some areas and is over 20 feet wide. According to scholars, its builders had to apply an immensely high level of geology, physics, and architecture knowledge in creating such a monument.  

Despite the extreme weather and earthquakes, it is also stable at this site today. As experts explain, "We know of no precedents in Iberia for such an impressive structure during this time."

Also Read: How Unexplained Stone Structures Helped Reveal Ancient Engineering Methods

Dolmen of Menga's Advanced Construction Techniques

According to Archaeology Magazine, the construction techniques used in the Dolmen of Menga are believed to involve methods such as counterweights and rails, which allowed the builders to move and position all massive stones. 

Researchers are still puzzled as to how the indigenous people of the time were able to acquire such knowledge and skills. The techniques they used are comparable to those found in much later periods, yet there is no record of any similar construction methods being used in the region during the Neolithic era.

In recognition of its historical significance, the Dolmen of Menga was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2016. 

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