Nécropole de Cales Coves, Archaeological necropolis in Alaior, Spain.
Necrópolis y Es Castellet de Calescoves is a prehistoric burial site containing over ninety tomb chambers carved into the limestone cliffs along Menorca's southern coast. The caves form an extensive cemetery where different types of burial structures sit side by side.
The site was in use from the Bronze Age through the Iron Age, with different cave types showing how burial practices changed over several centuries. This timeline documents the evolution of funeral customs on the island.
The caves served as collective burial grounds where communities laid their deceased to rest according to established funeral customs of the Talayotic period. The way the tombs are arranged reveals how important shared traditions and communal bonds were to these early inhabitants of Menorca.
Access is via the Torralba road heading south, then toward Cala'n Porter, and finally the first right turn leads toward the cove. The ground can be uneven and rocky, so sturdy shoes and plenty of water are important for exploring the site.
Within the fortified settlement on the grounds stands a rock-cut well featuring a preserved staircase that descends 45 steps into the earth. This hidden structure showcases the engineering skill of the prehistoric inhabitants and is often overlooked by visitors.
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