The megalithic monuments of the Neolithic period – consisting of large stones and strange architecture – have long puzzled archaeologists and researchers.
The Dolmen of Menga on the Iberian Peninsula in southern Spain is one such ancient wonder. It is a mysterious, massive structure made of 32 huge stones.
A team of experts led by José Antonio Lozano Rodríguez from the Oceanographic Center of the Canary Islands (COC) has carried out a detailed investigation to find out how this enormous monument was formed thousands of years ago.
“What initially aroused my interest most about the Menga Dolmen was its monumentality. When I entered its interior and contemplated this colossal monument from the Neolithic period, my curiosity to learn more about this dolmen was aroused,” said Rodríguez. Interesting Engineering (IE).
This new study suggests that the Neolithic builders of the Menga probably understood the basic principles of physics and geology. “We can say that Neolithic societies were able to solve very complex problems,” he added.
Understanding scientific principles
The Menga Dolmen is a huge burial mound that was built around 5,700 years ago. Previous excavations have found the remains of several hundred ancient people. It is considered one of the most impressive structures of the Neolithic period.
This site includes two natural formations and four megaliths, the largest and oldest of which is called Menga. It also has a massive capstone that weighs up to 1,140 tons. The entire structure is supported by large pillars.
The team examined each element and deduced what scientific principles the ancient people might have used. From this, they concluded that the ancient architects may have known some scientific principles such as friction and geometry.
“One of the most important principles that makes us believe that we are talking about the early phase of engineering is the fact that almost 6,000 years ago, unloading arches were used to solve complex stress distribution problems,” explained Rodríguez.
“This solved weight issues, which was one of the biggest structural problems they had in designing this great monument. They also solved this by using columns inside.”
Various elements ensure stability
The roof of the site was made of capstone blocks with a soft to medium-soft texture. Interestingly, these capstones were carefully moved along a specially designed track to avoid friction.
“The transportation of these stones and their placement in the building requires advanced knowledge of an emerging science. We must not forget that capstone 5 weighs 150 tons. It is the heaviest stone in prehistory for a dolmen,” the author noted.
“The construction suggests that the building was dug into the ground to allow the capstones to be placed without a ramp. Cuts were made in the stones so that they rested on each other and could thus distribute the vector forces associated with the weight,” stressed Rodríguez.
Furthermore, Menga’s upright stones suggested that the supporting wall stones were carefully angled to create a trapezoidal effect. This, combined with interlocking facets and wedging into the bedrock, ensured the stability of the structure.
“Almost 6,000 years ago, early scientific knowledge and extraordinary inventiveness existed in the Neolithic communities of the south of the Iberian Peninsula. This included highly developed knowledge of engineering, geology, geometry and astronomy,” he concluded.
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Mrigakshi Dixit Mrigakshi is a science journalist who loves to write about space exploration, biology and technological innovations. Her work has been published in popular publications such as Nature India, Supercluster, The Weather Channel and Astronomy Magazine. If you have any suggestions, please email her.
