Archaeologists Uncover 5,000-Year-Old Dolmen in Southern Spain

Dolmen de Soto de Trigueros. Credit: Ángel M. Felicísimo – CC BY 2.0 via WIkimedia Commons.

Archaeologists from the University of Cádiz person unveiled a remarkably well-preserved 5,000-year-old dolmen successful confederate Spain, shedding caller airy connected funerary rites and long-distance speech successful the 3rd millennium B.C., the assemblage said Monday.

The structure, identified arsenic Dolmen I of the La Lentejuela necropolis successful Teba, Málaga province, is astir 13 meters (43 feet) agelong and contains a analyzable interior layout with aggregate ossuaries and affluent sedate goods, researchers from the assemblage said. Excavations implicit 4 tract seasons recovered prestige items fashioned from ivory, amber, marine shells, and finely worked flint, including arrowheads, ample blades, and an exceptional halberd, which the squad cites arsenic grounds of societal hierarchy and far-reaching commercialized networks.

“This could beryllium 1 of the astir monumental and implicit dolmens successful each of Andalucia,” said Professor Serafín Becerra, manager of the Teba Museum and co-leader of the project. Co-director Eduardo Vijande of the University of Cádiz emphasized the site’s authorities of preservation. “The bonzer information of this operation volition let america to larn successful large item astir the lives and beliefs of these communities.”

Researchers highlighted the worth of the objects recovered successful the Dolmen

The enactment is carried retired nether the probe task “Monumentality, Time and Society: The Megalithic Phenomenon successful the La Lentejuela Necropolis,” authorized by the determination Culture and Historical Heritage Department of the Junta de Andalucía. The excavation squad includes specialists from the university’s Thalassa probe radical (HUM-1127), enactment from the Fundación Palarq for archaeometric analyses, and backing from the Teba municipality council.

University researchers highlighted the symbolic worth of the objects found. “The beingness of marine shells successful an inland territory reflects the value of the oversea arsenic a prestige constituent and confirms long-distance speech networks,” said Professor Juan Jesús Cantillo of the University of Cádiz.

El grupo de investigación Thalassa de la UCA ha descubierto en Teba (Málaga) un dolmen de más de 5.000 años, uno de los más monumentales y mejor conservados de Andalucía.@ConoceTeba pic.twitter.com/C7rbJpqym1

— Universidad de Cádiz (@univcadiz) September 22, 2025

Archaeologists utilized a operation of accepted tract methods and laboratory techniques, including microclimatic monitoring, microscopy, and X-ray fluorescence, to papers the monument and statesman analyses of materials and manufacturing techniques. The squad has besides produced elaborate integer records of the monument to sphere its signifier and contents for aboriginal study.

The archaeological expeditions to the Dolmen served arsenic a grooming crushed for students successful Spain

The task serves arsenic a grooming crushed for University of Cádiz students, who took portion successful the fieldwork alongside doctoral researchers and elder staff. 

The excavation squad includes scholars from the University of Almería and a roster of postgraduate and undergraduate students who participated successful on-site conservation and recording.

Local officials and researchers said the find some reinforces the University of Cádiz’s relation successful European megalithic probe and boosts efforts to conserve and beforehand Andalusia’s archaeological heritage. Plans telephone for continued laboratory survey and nationalist outreach to stock the findings with section communities and planetary scholars.