A naveta, also called a funerary naveta or burial naveta, is a type of large stone chamber tomb found only on the Balearic island of Menorca. These structures were built during the Bronze Age, between the Pre-Talayotic period and the start of the Talayotic period. Although they look similar to residential navetas, they had a different purpose and were not built at the same time.
The largest naveta is called Naveta d'Es Tudons. It is about 4 meters high, 14 meters long, and 6.4 meters wide.
The first person to write about these structures was Juan Ramis. He described them in his book Celtic Antiquities on the Island of Menorca, which was published in 1818. This was the first book in the Spanish language entirely focused on prehistoric history.
Structures preceding the funerary navetas
In recent years, some researchers have suggested that the funerary navetas developed from earlier funerary structures found in the southeastern part of the island, called dolmens. However, this development was not direct. Instead, some structures that appear between dolmens and fully formed navetas have been discovered. These include triple-walled tombs, also called proto-navetas, and circular-plan navetas.
The first of these structures was found in the early 21st century at the sites of Son Olivaret and Ses Arenes de Baix. Both buildings have an oval-shaped central chamber surrounded by three rows of large stones. These stones likely supported the earthen mound that covered the structure. These monuments look similar to dolmens, but they differ in the shape of the chamber and the entrance corridor. At Son Olivaret and Ses Arenes de Baix, no perforated slab was found. These structures were used between 1700 and 1300 BCE, during the time when dolmen construction was ending.
Circular-plan navetas also resemble dolmens. They have a rectangular chamber and an entrance passage with a perforated slab that separates the chamber from the corridor. The main difference is that, unlike dolmens, which are covered by an earthen mound, these structures are covered with stones. This feature makes the connection between them and funerary navetas more likely. Examples of this type of building include Biniac-l'Argentina, Torrellisar, and others.
Funerary naveta
The funerary naveta is the largest and most unique funerary structure found in Menorca. It was used between 1050 and 850 BCE. Even though its internal development may not have followed earlier models, it remains the most significant monument of this type.
These structures come in different types. Most are long and narrow, like the Naveta des Tudons. Some have two connected floors, while others have only one. Some have an entrance made of stone slabs, while others use a perforated slab, similar to older structures called dolmens. So far, archaeologists have not found clear reasons for these differences. Also, the dates of these structures do not show a clear timeline of changes.
Older archaeological methods were used when studying these navetas. Also, because these structures are visible across the landscape, they have been targets of looting. This has led to incomplete and unclear information about the people buried there and the rituals that took place.
Even with the lack of information, more grave goods have been found in these navetas than in earlier tombs. Some items are similar to those found before, but there are also new types. These include triangular bone buttons, many pottery pieces, awls, bracelets, knives, spearheads, and biconical beads.
The name "naveta" comes from its shape, which looks like an upside-down ship.
Talayotic Menorca: UNESCO World Heritage
Talayotic Menorca is a place added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2023. It includes many archaeological sites that show a special culture from ancient times, known for large stone buildings. The island has unique structures like funerary navetas, round houses, taula sanctuaries, and talayots, all of which blend well with the natural landscape and the view of the sky.
Menorca has one of the most valuable archaeological areas in the world, protected by people over many years. It has the most prehistoric sites per square meter of any island and represents its unique identity.
This area is divided into nine sections that include archaeological sites and their surrounding landscapes. These sites date from about 1600 BCE, when large stone buildings first appeared, to 123 BCE, when the Romans took control. The importance of these monuments and landscapes led to their inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2023.