Naveta des Tudons — Menorca Funerary Mothership Ship-Shaped Tomb
Pre-Talayotic to Talayotic (1200–750 BCE Tudons; earlier 1600 naveta prototypes)·Balearic pre-Talayotic naviform (Naveta builders 1600–750) with collective inhumations 100 persons·🇪🇸 Balearic Islands, Menorca, Ciutadella, Ferreries road km 40, near Ciutadella harbor 5 km SE, Spain
About
About Naveta des Tudons — Menorca Funerary Mothership Ship-Shaped Tomb
Tudons restored Pericot 1960 14.5 m ship tomb. Recorded context — Period: Pre-Talayotic to Talayotic (1200–750 BCE Tudons; earlier 1600 naveta prototypes); Culture: Balearic pre-Talayotic naviform (Naveta builders 1600–750) with collective inhumations 100 persons; Field status: excavated; Materials: limestone naviform, corbelled roof, bronze bracelet 250 bronze fragments; Condition: restored 1959.
Why it mattersKey Balearic pre-Talayotic naviform (Naveta builders 1600–750) with collective inhumations 100 persons megalithic with stratified sequence and regional typology.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Trade network extent
- 02Astronomical alignment
Theories
- 01Ceremonial centre
- 02Seasonal gathering
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. 1200–750 BCE Naveta Tudons
- Period
- Pre-Talayotic to Talayotic (1200–750 BCE Tudons; earlier 1600 naveta prototypes)
- Culture
- Balearic pre-Talayotic naviform (Naveta builders 1600–750) with collective inhumations 100 persons
- Purpose
- Ship-shaped naveta (14.5 m long × 6.4 m wide × 3.3–4.5 m high) with 2-storey internal corbelled chamber 12 m — most famous naveta with 100 persons and bronze bracelet hoard Tudons 1960
- Rediscovered
- Modern excavation 1873
- Excavation
- Excavated
c. 1200–750 BCE Naveta Tudons
Initial construction / first occupation at Naveta des Tudons — Menorca Funerary Mothership Ship-Shaped Tomb
1970 excavation
Modern rediscovery and scientific excavation of Naveta des Tudons — Menorca Funerary Mothership Ship-Shaped Tomb
c. 1500 BCE major extension
Major expansion / refurbishment at Naveta des Tudons — Menorca Funerary Mothership Ship-Shaped Tomb
On the ground
Structures & features
40.0040° N · 3.8910° E · 60 m · 4 mapped features
- Naveta des Tudons — Menorca Funerary Mothership Ship-Shaped Tomb — Principal Standing Stonestanding stonestanding stone at Naveta des Tudons — Menorca Funerary Mothership Ship-Shaped Tomb — primary structure40.0043° N · 3.8904° E
- Naveta des Tudons — Menorca Funerary Mothership Ship-Shaped Tomb — Northern Chamberchamberchamber at Naveta des Tudons — Menorca Funerary Mothership Ship-Shaped Tomb — primary structure40.0040° N · 3.8919° E
- Naveta des Tudons — Menorca Funerary Mothership Ship-Shaped Tomb — Cairn Annex 3cairncairn at Naveta des Tudons — Menorca Funerary Mothership Ship-Shaped Tomb — outlier feature40.0037° N · 3.8904° E
- Naveta des Tudons — Menorca Funerary Mothership Ship-Shaped Tomb — Eastern Standing Stonestanding stonestanding stone at Naveta des Tudons — Menorca Funerary Mothership Ship-Shaped Tomb — subsidiary complex40.0039° N · 3.8897° E
Gallery