MENORCA HERITAGE RECOVERY
Systematic study of construction processes in talayotic architecture
Location:Torre d’en Galmés Talayotic settlement
Project managers:
Team:
- Directors: Luis Cobos Rodríguez and Julia García González. In partnership with Menorca Heritage Recovery Association
- Technical members: Ismael Moll Pelegrí; Adrián Castro Tunis; Alberto Dorado Alejos and Lucía Ariza Molina.
- Consultants: Juan Carlos Olmo García and Pablo Laguna Salamanca
Scientific objectives:The main objective of this research project is to produce a framework of knowledge and comprehensive analysis of the evolution of the Talayotic and Late Talayotic architecture by means of the excavations conducted at the archaeological site of Torre d’en Galmés. These will allow us to define constructive models, techniques and materials; determine possible correlations with socioeconomic changes, characterise one of the fundamental elements of Cultural Landscape; and contribute to the conservation and recovery of heritage assets so that they can be enjoyed and used by all citizens.
Results obtained:Since 2017, the Torre d'en Galmés Talayotic settlement has had an archaeological research project dedicated to the systematic study of the construction processes of its architecture. The Asociación Cultural Heritage Recovery which does research and recovery of Menorca’s cultural heritage is in charge of coordinating the various works carried out at the site, alongside the University of Malaga and the company ARQ Patrimonio.
There are other organisations and people that contribute to a better functioning and financing of the investigations, such as the Ajuntament d’Alaior and the Consell Insular de Menorca (Department of Cultural Affairs and Education, and Department of the Environment and Biosphere Reserve).
The 2017 campaign was the first phase of the General Research Project, located in the central area of ??the site, the most unknown and least studied, that covers around 15,000 m2. For this reason, a series of actions were carried out to demarcate the space in which the future interventions would take place. Specifically, a surface prospecting and terrain survey was done in order to identify, locate and define archaeological structures. At the same time, the existence of several natural terraces from north to south was verified, where different archaeological structures of varying size and type have been discovered.
In the 2018 and 2019 campaigns it has been possible to define a series of constructions of different morphology and techniques that present a chronological use of the area from the Talayotic to the Middle Ages. Among others, there is a structure that stands out for its interesting characteristics, singularity and exceptionality, particularly due to its quadrangular base; alongside with the presence of a circle that is beginning to define itself, a lintelled structure that functions as an entrance to a transit space, and rooms from the Andalusian period as the last constructive elements.
Supporting entities:Asociación Cultural Heritage Recovery
Universidad de Málaga
ARQ Patrimoni