The Rafal Rubí archaeological site is made up of two funerary navetas dating from between the Middle and Late Bronze Ages, although other materials have been found on site that date to the 15th century AD, which implies that it was still in use into medieval period. They are collective tombs of the same type as the Naveta des Tudons, although smaller and with the peculiar fact of their mutual proximity. Both show a perforated stone slab as the entrance to the inner chamber, which is divided into two levels.
Schedule: From May to September: Sundays from 9 am to 9 pm.
From October to April: Sundays from 9 am to 6 pm.
Price: Free
Open: Yes
Access: Access in from the main Me-1 motorway. From Maó, head toward Alaior and exit to the right at km 6.6 onto a country road. Just 100 m down and on the left side of this road is the entrance to the monument.
There is signposting present.
Car Park: No
Guided tours: Visitor information panels are posted.
Contact:
Services: No
Access for individuals with reduced mobility: No
More information See map
More information: The northern, or septentrional naveta has an elongated apsidal shape. The entire upper portion is missing, lost to the wild olive trees that stood and grew upon it for centuries. The maximum height of the façade is 3 metres, but it was most certainly much taller than its current height as it likely had a second storey that has been lost. Between the perforated stone slab and the entrance is a vertical corridor known as a “chimney” that provided access to the upper chamber.
The excavation and restoration carried out in 1977 unearthed human bone remains both from the lower and upper chambers. In 2007, a number of the bones from the upper chamber were analysed, concluding that they belonged to the skeletons of at least 19 men, women and children. If not for pillaging, however, this number would certainly be much higher.
The southern naveta was restored in 1968 and the two upper courses are not original. The structure is quite similar to that of the northern naveta, although the opening to access the chamber was increased in size in modern times to allow use by livestock as a shelter. This reuse eliminated the entire sediment layer found in the lower chamber, although during the excavation of 1968 it was documented that the upper chamber had been used for the collective interment of 44 individuals. A highlight from among these remains is the possible skull of a woman who had undergone trepanation while still alive.