La Torre-La Janera megalithic site

La Torre-La Janera is an archaeological site with over 500 standing stones spread across 600 hectares near the Guadiana River at the Spanish-Portuguese border. The stones form geometric patterns, some arranged in U-shapes or H-shapes, and range from one to three meters in height.

Discovery began in 2018 when a farmer uncovered the stones while planning an avocado plantation, leading researchers to determine they date from 6000 to 5000 BCE. Excavations have continued at this location and are planned through 2026.

The stone alignments and two circular formations positioned on elevated ground suggest that early inhabitants tracked and understood celestial movements. Visitors can still see how these arrangements relate to the sky, revealing what mattered to the communities who built them.

The site has designated visiting areas where you can observe ongoing archaeological work at specific times. Wear sturdy shoes and bring weather protection, as the terrain is open and expansive.

The collection comprises 526 stones that are far from random, forming clear geometric patterns like U and H shapes that spread across the landscape. This precise arrangement reveals that builders possessed deliberate planning and deep spatial understanding.