Dolmen de Guadalperal
Spanish Stonehenge · Treasure of Guadalperal
Late Neolithic – Chalcolithic·Extremadura Megalithic (Tagus basin Chalcolithic)·🇪🇸 Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain
About
About Dolmen de Guadalperal
Iberian megalithic complex in Valdecañas reservoir near El Gordo, Cáceres: oval chamber (5 m) with 5 m entrance corridor and ovoid outer cromlech of 144 granite stones encircling 2 ha area plus prominent 2 m menhir at entrance, interpretably solar-aligned to equinox. Dated 2000–3000 BCE Chalcolithic, submerged since 1963 by Valdecañas dam, emergent only in severe droughts (2019 fully visible, 2022, 2023). Excavated 1925–27 by Hugo Obermaier, who recorded engravings including anthropomorph and possible river map. Declared BIC 2022.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Menhir engravings — river map or serpent?
Theories
- 01Floodplain ceremonial island controlling Tagus fords before reservoir
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 3000–2000 BCE
- Period
- Late Neolithic – Chalcolithic
- Culture
- Extremadura Megalithic (Tagus basin Chalcolithic)
- Purpose
- Passage grave within large stone circle / ceremonial enclosure
- Abandoned
- Bronze Age; flooded 1963
- Rediscovered
- Excavated 1925–27 (Hugo Obermaier); submerged 1963; emergent conservation 2019–22
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c. 3000–2000 BCE
Initial construction
c. 1170 CE
Abandonment
On the ground
Structures & features
39.8317° N · 5.4028° W · 320 m · 3 mapped features
Oval chamber and corridor
passage grave5 m chamber with 5 m corridor facing east
39.8317° N · 5.4028° WGuadalperal menhir (entrance)
menhir2 m anthropomorphic menhir at cromlech entrance
39.8320° N · 5.4025° WOuter cromlech
stone circle144 granite boulders forming ovoid enclosure ~150 m across
39.8315° N · 5.4030° W
Gallery