Dolmen de Dombate

Dolmen de Dombate is arguably the one of the most valuable megaliths located in Spain. Not only due to the relative good conservation of the monument, but also for several peculiarities that make it unique. The monument is actually two Tombs constructed in two different time frames, one over the other. The dolmen (dated 3900 BC) is composed of a 24m diameter, 1,8m high barrow which does not seem to have totally covered the actual chamber. The later is a poligonal chamber composed of seven orthostats (the bigger one at the back of the monument is 4,7x3m) covered by a massive capstone. This chamber was accessed by a three segment - 4m long - corridor made of six orthostats of decreasing heights. The corridor, covered by a capstone and probably by the barrow, is oriented to the East.

Inside the megalith, several petroglyphs have been found, but what makes this Dolmen unique in Spain is the discovery of several paintings in both the chamber and the access corridor. These pictures are Zig-Zag motives in reddish colour with black dots over a whitish base. Objects encountered inside the tomb reveal different periods of usage, and range from early neolithic silex blades to pre-beaker pottery. All in all the Dolmen was used from its creation (3900 BC) to 2700BC when a final lith was installed blocking all access.Other objects dating from 2700BC to contemporary times have been found since the first re-opening of the megalith by Beaker Culture gravediggers.

References:

• megalithic.co.uk

Address

DP-1404, Galicia, Spain

Details

Founded: 3900 BCE
Category: Prehistoric and archaeological sites in Spain