Dolmen de Santa Cruz, Neolithic passage grave in Cangues d'Onís, Spain.
Dolmen de Santa Cruz is a prehistoric burial monument built from large stone slabs positioned where the Güeña and Sella rivers meet. The rectangular chamber is formed by five larger stones and two smaller ones that create the interior space.
The burial monument was built around 4000 BC as a final resting place for the deceased. Centuries later, in 737, King Favila constructed a chapel directly above the stones to house a sacred wooden cross.
Red paint marks with linear patterns cover the inner walls, showing how prehistoric people in this region expressed themselves artistically. These traces offer a window into creative practices from thousands of years ago.
Visitors should arrange a visit in advance through the local tourist office, as the site is not freely accessible at all times. The location remains closed on Mondays and Tuesdays throughout the year, so plan your visit accordingly.
Unlike many other prehistoric burial sites, visitors can actually stand upright inside the chamber and directly experience a space that was used for burials thousands of years ago. What makes this special is that the ancient monument sits beneath an active chapel, where the lives of worshippers and archaeological history meet in an immediate way.
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