The Dolmen de Soto in Spain has been compared to an underground Stonehenge.

A giant structure in Andalusia, Spain, known as the Spanish underground Stonehenge.

A structure in Trigueros, Andalusia, known as the ‘underground Stonehenge’.

This dolmen contains many artifacts and stone carvings, which help to understand the beliefs of the ancients.

The mystery of the origin of Neolithic tombs in Europe remains unclear.

The spread of tomb architecture in Europe from the 5th and 4th millennium BC.

Dolmen de Soto was discovered in 1923 by Armando de Soto Morillas, who wanted to build a new house. In the Andalusian region, there are about 1,650 Neolithic burial monuments, but the Soto dolmen is the most unique architecturally.

From the outside, the Dolmen de Soto has a circular mound with an east-west entrance, leading to a corridor and burial chamber.

Within the Dolmen de Soto, there are carved stone columns and schematic images, which may have been created during construction or use.

Recently, a team of researchers from Portugal, Spain and the UK conducted a comprehensive study of the paintings and engravings on the stones inside the dolmen.

Over 60% of the standing columns in the dolmen contained paintings and engravings, which were analyzed using various techniques such as Raman spectroscopy, providing insights into the Neolithic period and the development of society.

The team found that some of the engravings were created from reusing an old menhir, while others were created after the construction of the dolmen.

The researchers believe that the images may have had different meanings and functions, especially with the use of red dye to enhance and highlight the motifs.

The team is working to determine whether the use of red dye enhanced the effect of the carvings.

The Dolmen de Soto is open to visitors so they can experience this remarkable site freely. The entrance is on the west side of the mound, with a reconstructed gate providing access to the interior. The pᴀssage is approximately 21 metres long, widening from 0.8 metres at the entrance to 3.1 metres at the centre. The chamber is approximately 3.9 metres high and circular in shape. The pᴀssage and chamber are covered with 20 pyramidal stones, which form the roof of the dolmen.

Related Posts

Rosalia Lombardo: The “Sleeping Beauty” of Palermo

The image above captures one of the most haunting and poignant sights in the history of preservation: the remarkably lifelike remains of Rosalia Lombardo, a young Italian…

Whispers of Eternity: The Mysterious Monolith of the Andean Highlands

Whispers of Eternity: The Mysterious Monolith of the Andean Highlands

High in the rugged Andean highlands, where thin mountain air meets endless skies, stands a solitary and enigmatic stone monolith. Scholars suggest it may date as far…

Echoes of Stone: The Ancient Archway Near the Great Pyramid of Giza

Echoes of Stone: The Ancient Archway Near the Great Pyramid of Giza

Amid the golden sands of Giza, not far from the imposing silhouette of the Great Pyramid, stands a weathered yet captivating ancient archway. Believed to have been…

Echoes of the Ancients: The Doddington Rock Art in Northumberland, England

Echoes of the Ancients: The Doddington Rock Art in Northumberland, England

Nestled in the rugged landscapes of Northumberland, England, lies the Doddington Rock Art, an extraordinary collection of prehistoric carvings that dates back to the Neolithic and Bronze…

The Mystery of the Bent Pyramid: An Ancient Egyptian Tale of Innovation

In the golden sands of Dahshur, where the scorching Egyptian sun casts long shadows across the desert landscape, stands a monument unlike any other in the ancient…

The Untouchable Enigma: Unraveling the Mystery of Egypt’s Bashiri Mummy

A Delicate Window into Ancient Egypt’s Past In the vast realm of Egyptian archaeology, one artifact stands apart, captivating researchers and history enthusiasts alike: the Bashiri mummy….