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Chapter - 3 Prehistoric Minorca
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Navetas
Navetas are collective burial chambers
built, above ground level, of cyclopean stones, situated at a distance
from the centres of population. Their design is unique to the island; they
were first called navetas in 1818 because their shape resembles an upturned
boat. There are thirty-six on the island, the most notable being the Naveta
des Tudons, which is stated by Professor Garcia to be the oldest roofed
building on Spanish soil and possibly in Europe. It is sign-posted on the
left of the Ferrerias - Ciudadela road, and is easily reached by car. This
naveta is 14m long by 6.4m (maximum) wide and about 8m high, with an easily
negotiated entrance at its 'blunt' end leading to two superimposed burial
chambers.
It is not known whether the upturned-boat
shape is deliberate. It is probable that the shape is simply due to corbelling
of the roof.
When the Naveta des Tudons
was excavated in 1959 many of the original deposits were found to be undisturbed.
In its main chamber, among hundreds of human bones, were perforated bone
buttons and metal discs of the same type as those associated with the Myotragus
balearicus. On female skeletons were found bronze bracelets still around
the bones of the arms they had once adorned. The women had not been slow
to admire the beauty of the new metal as well as its usefulness.
Hypostyle courts
Hypostyle courts (literally 'low-pillared
chambers'), found in many of the ancient settlements we have been exploring,
are dug-outs, half above and half below ground, lined and roofed by massive
slabs of stone. The roof slabs seem to be placed at random, and are supported
by low pillars, often of the Mediterranean type (that is, wide at the top
and tapering downwards). The mechanics of building once more defy imagination.
The fact that great labour was involved suggests they may have been places
of assembly of chiefs or elders. An excellent example can be seen at Torre
d'en Gaumes, and another alongside the talayot at Torralba d'en Salort,
places already mentioned.
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