Dolmen del prado de Lácara

The dolmen del prado de Lácara is a megalithic passage tomb located northwest of Mérida. It is a notable megalithic tomb, built during the late Neolithic towards the end of the 4th millennium BC or early 3rd millennium BC. It is one of the most monumental and well preserved sites in the Extremadura region.

The dolmen in Lácara is a typical Extremaduran tomb with a long corridor, the largest in the region. The chamber, used for collective burials, is circular and made of seven granite slabs, one of which remains intact. The corridor is 20 meters long and divided into an atrium and two antechambers. The dolmen was originally covered by an earth mound with an elliptical shape, surrounded by a pebble wall.

The dolmen's prolonged use and instances of looting have made it difficult to estimate the number of burials and the full range of grave items. Excavations uncovered various artifacts, including ceramic containers, stone tools, arrowheads, personal adornments, copperheads, a slate plaque idol, and ocher pieces. The burial dates back to the late Neolithic period, around the end of the 4th millennium BC or the beginning of the 3rd millennium BC. It continued to be used for Chalcolithic burials in the 3rd millennium BC.

The dolmen was repurposed in Roman and Medieval times, affecting the original burials and grave goods. It also endured structural damage, including quarrying and dynamiting in the 19th century. Fortunately, parts of the structure have survived, allowing us to imagine its original grandeur.

The dolmen's existence has been known since the late 19th century, with references by scholars like Vicente Barrantes. It was declared a National Monument in 1931 and underwent systematic excavation from 1957 to 1958, led by archaeologist Martín Almagro Basch.

References:

• Wikipedia

Address

Mérida, Spain

Details

Founded: 3000 BCE
Category: Prehistoric and archaeological sites in Spain