Matalvira stones from Valencina, Spain, transported over 5,300 years ago
L. Garcia Sanjuan
A two-ton megalith located in southern Spain was moved by an unknown group of ancient seafarers over 5,300 years ago.
The Matalvira stones are sturdy plaster slabs, measuring approximately 1.7 meters in length and 1.2 meters in width, situated within a structure reminiscent of the Copper Age of Valencina, near Seville.
This megalith is housed in a circular chamber known as a tross, offering ample space for individuals to stand around it. Due to its distinctive composition and dimensions, this stone is believed to have been used for rituals, though its origin remains puzzling.
Lewis Caceres Paro from the University of Fuelva, along with his team, conducted chemical analyses alongside optically stimulated luminescence dating to estimate the age of the slabs.
The findings indicate that the megalith was transported to its present location between 4544 and 3277 BC. This new timeline suggests the stones were moved to Valencina well before the tunnel structure surrounding it was constructed.
The composition of the stone closely resembles that of a quarry located 55 km away, across the Guadalquivir River. At that time, a wide estuary separated the two sites, implying that the stone was likely transported by boat.
This marks the first evidence of megalithic stones being moved by boats on the Iberian Peninsula. It is theorized that larger stones from other megalithic sites in Europe, such as Stonehenge in the UK and Kerenca in France, were also transported similarly.
“In 4,000 BC, we observed rapid advancements in coastal navigation,” notes Leonardo Garcia Sanjuan from the University of Seville. “The stone basin at Matalvira is a significant piece of indirect evidence, suggesting that these people had developed advanced raft, canoeing, or sailing techniques.”
Excavations at other sites indicate that Mediterranean communities had already begun constructing sophisticated and seaworthy vessels.
“The transportation of these enormous stones further underscores the technical expertise of the Matalvira Builder,” remarks Ramon Fabregas Valkerse, who was not involved in this research at the University of Santiago de Compostela in Spain.
Valencina is recognized as one of Europe’s most extensive prehistoric sites, covering over 460 hectares. Unique artifacts at this location include items sourced from distant areas, such as amber, flint, cinnabar, ivory, and ostrich eggs.
“[Valencina] features megaliths, extensive ditches, large burial sites, and complex material cultures, hinting at interactions between Iberia, North Africa, and the Mediterranean,” explains Cacerespolo.
Prior research in this area has unveiled numerous details demonstrating the historical importance of the site, including the era from 2900 to 2650, during which it was predominantly led by women.
“The current analysis enriches the understanding of one of Valencina’s principal monuments,” asserts Alasdair Whittle from Cardiff University, UK.
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Source: www.newscientist.com
