MODULAR is an interdisciplinary research project led by the University Institute of Archaeology and Historical Heritage (INAPH) from the University of Alicante, which also counts on the collaboration of the Centre for the Near East and Late Antiquity Studies (CEPOAT) from the University of Murcia and the Municipal Museum of Ciutadella de Menorca. Since 2016 it conducts several actions in Son Catlar, and in 2019 it was commissioned the writing of the management plan for the same site. For more information, visit the project’s website: https://web.ua.es/es/modular
Son Catlar is a large Talayotic settlement located on top of a small hill at the western side of Menorca. Its most outstanding feature is an impressive outer wall, which is the best preserved in the Balearics and whose layout measures roughly 1 km long. It was built in the 6th century BC, although it was refortified in the 3rd century BC, when the latest defence technological innovations of the Ancient Mediterranean were added.
Nowadays we know about two entrances to the settlement: the North gate and the bent gateway. The first is a direct entrance which was placed in the deepest part of the concave stretch of the outer wall, with the aim of being better protected. To its left, the stretch of the outer wall presents a zig-zag pattern, creating flanks for attacking. To its right and very close to it, there is a tower which abuts the wall. Right after crossing this North gate, there is a narrow zig-zag corridor which would force the assailants to traverse it in small groups, which would make them more vulnerable.
In 2017 another access to the settlement was located in the outer wall during archaeological excavations: the bent gateway. Its name is given by the L-shaped structure that hides the entrance. Also, it creates a narrow corridor flanked by a sentry box, which would have forced attackers to do a 90 degree turn and, therefore, made the access to the settlement much more difficult.
Both entrances make use of architectural features which were conceived and built, without any doubt, to defend the settlement from sieges and assaults with complex weaponry (battering rams, siege towers or ballistae).