Glossary of terms from prehistoric monuments
Andalucía is home to some of the most significant prehistoric monuments in Europe, particularly the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Antequera Dolmens and the Copper Age settlements of Almería and Huelva.
Here is a glossary of key terms commonly used to describe prehistoric monuments in the region, based on the archaeological findings and guides.
Andalucía is home to some of the most significant prehistoric monuments in Europe, particularly the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Antequera Dolmens and the Copper Age settlements of Almería… More →
When the Romans invaded in the 1st century AD they proceeded to build whole towns and innumerable monuments, as well as roads, bridges and aqueducts. The two significant characteristics of their… More →
The mudéjar style of architecture emerged in Andalucía during the 12th century as Romanesque, with its close links to France and Italy, spread through northern and central Spain. The style, unique… More →
There is much illustrated information available in museums throughout Andalucía about the life and culture of prehistoric man. This has generally been pieced together through archaeological… More →
Classic Gothic architecture, overlapping with the mudéjar style, spread through Andalucía from the 14th century with the Reconquest. As the Christians recovered the towns and cities there was a… More →
Baroque and Neoclassic architecture was prominent in Spain between the late 17th and mid 18th Century. These two styles were not as influenced by the Muslim world as the majority of Andalucian… More →
Core Architectural Terms
Megalithic: From the Greek megas (large) and lithos (stone). It refers to structures built using large, often interlocking stones without the use of mortar.
Dolmen: A single-chamber megalithic tomb consisting of several upright stones supporting a large flat horizontal stone (capstone). Famous examples include the Menga and Viera dolmens in Antequera.
Orthostat: A large, upright standing stone that forms the wall of a megalithic structure. The Menga Dolmen is notable for its massive orthostats, the largest of which weighs 180 tonnes.
Capstone (or Roof Slab): A large horizontal stone placed across orthostats to form the roof of a dolmen.
Tumulus: An artificial mound of earth and stones raised over a grave. Most dolmens in Andalucía, such as the Dolmen de Soto in Huelva and those in Antequera, were originally covered by a tumulus.
Pillar: A vertical support stone found in the center of a large chamber to help hold up the massive capstones. The Menga Dolmen features three distinctive central pillars.
Burial & Structural Types
Tholos (pl. Tholoi): Also known as a "beehive tomb," this is a circular burial structure characterized by a false dome. The Tholos of El Romeral in Antequera is one of the best examples in the Iberian Peninsula.
False Dome (Corbelled Vault): A dome created by placing progressively smaller circles of stones or bricks on top of each other until the space is closed. Unlike a true arch, this technique relies on the weight of the surrounding tumulus to act as a counterbalance.
Corridor (Passage): A long, narrow section leading from the entrance to the main funerary chamber. At Dolmen de Soto in Trigueros, the corridor is over 20 meters long.
Atrium: An open-air entrance section or porch at the front of a dolmen, often partially unroofed, leading into the corridor.
Funerary Chamber: The main internal space of a dolmen or tholos where burials and ritual offerings took place.
Historical & Cultural Context
Chalcolithic (Copper Age): A period (approx. 3300–2200 BC) between the Stone Age and the Bronze Age when copper metalworking first appeared. Most of Andalucía’s great megaliths, including those at Los Millares in Almería, date from this era.
Neolithic: The "New Stone Age," during which the first farmers in the Guadalhorce valley began constructing the earliest dolmens in Antequera.
Necropolis: A "city of the dead" or a large cemetery. Andalucía has several significant prehistoric necropolises, such as the Gorafe Megalithic Park in Granada and the Necrópolis de Corominas in Estepona.
Solstice Alignment: Many Andalusian dolmens are aligned with solar events. On the summer solstice (21 June), the morning sun shines directly down the corridor of the Menga Dolmen, illuminating the chamber—a feat of ancient astronomical engineering.
Where can you see prehistoric monuments in Andalucia
The Dolmen de Menga near Antequera is the most spectacular example that has been discovered in the Iberian peninsular.
The ‘Tumba del Gigante' near El Gastor in Cadiz province is another fine example.
Bronze Age tombs from around 1,900 BC have been found in the foothills of the Sierra de Gádor (Almería), just outside the remains of the walled settlement of Los Millares.
El Dolmen de Soto is a megalithic monument dating from 3,000-2,500 BC in the form of a 20.90 m corridor found in 1923 by Armando de Soto, dating to the Copper Age. Located outside Trigueros north of Huelva city.