5,000-Year-Old Megalithic Tomb Unearthed in Southern Spain!
Archaeologists from the University of Cádiz have uncovered one of the most remarkable megalithic discoveries in recent years: a monumental dolmen (stone tomb) in the town of Teba, Málaga province. This ancient burial site, found within the La Lentejuela necropolis, dates back more than 5,000 years and is being hailed as one of Andalusia’s largest and best-preserved prehistoric monuments.
Stretching nearly 13 metres (43 feet) in length, the dolmen was constructed using massive stone slabs, some standing over two metres tall. These stones were carefully arranged to create walls and internal chambers. Thanks to its excellent state of preservation, researchers have been able to study its layout, construction methods, and the funerary traditions of the communities that built and reused it over time.
Photo Credit: University of Cádiz
Archaeologists believe the dolmen was originally built in the late Neolithic or early Copper Age, around the fourth millennium BCE, and later reused during the Bronze Age.
Inside the tomb, the excavation team found several ossuaries containing human remains, confirming that it served as a communal burial site. Alongside the skeletons, a fascinating collection of grave goods was discovered – including finely crafted flint arrowheads, large stone blades, a high-quality halberd, and ornaments made from amber, ivory, and seashells.
The presence of marine shells in this inland region points to long-distance trade networks and suggests that the sea held important symbolic and social significance for these prehistoric people.
The project, titled Monumentality, Time, and Society: The Megalithic Phenomenon in the La Lentejuela Necropolis, is led by archaeologists Eduardo Vijande and Serafín Becerra of the Thalassa research group at the University of Cádiz. Over the course of four excavation campaigns, their team has not only uncovered new insights into prehistoric life but also provided hands-on training for archaeology students, giving them valuable experience in excavation techniques and the study of ancient material culture.
Researchers emphasise that the dolmen’s significance goes far beyond its impressive size or age. It offers a rare glimpse into the symbolic, social, and ritual systems of prehistoric Iberian communities. Across Europe, dolmens served multiple purposes, not just as tombs, but also as ritual spaces, territorial markers, and possibly even symbols of land ownership in early farming societies. Their frequent alignment with celestial events like solstices hints at a deeper cosmological or spiritual meaning.
Spain is home to a wealth of megalithic monuments, from small dolmens to grand complexes such as the Dolmen of Guadalperal, a 7,000-year-old stone circle often called the “Spanish Stonehenge.” The newly uncovered La Lentejuela dolmen now joins this impressive lineage, standing as one of the most important prehistoric monumentson the Iberian Peninsula.
As research continues, archaeologists hope to learn more about the people who built and used this monumental tomb, how they lived, traded, and honoured their dead. Each discovery brings us a little closer to understanding the complex societies that flourished in prehistoric southern Spain.