Talayotica Menorca is once again participating this year in the Tarraco Viva historical re-enactment festival. The Menorcan delegation will present various activities between between May 24 and 26 in a unique setting to showcase Menorca's prehistoric World Heritage. In this way, the aim is to continue with the dissemination of Talayotic Menorca at a national level.
This edition was inaugurated today under the theme "The Mediterranean in Antiquity. A sea of cultures, encounters and conflicts", and will end on May 26. Tarraco Viva is a historical re-enactment festival that began in 1999 as an activity to support the candidacy of the city of Tarragona to be inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Today, it is a benchmark for festivals on this theme in Spain.
Taking advantage of the fact that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the discovery of the bronze statuette of Imhotep in Torre d'en Galmés by archaeologist Guillem Rosselló Bordoy, this important event will be remembered in the different contents of Talayotic Menorca. All the activities are free but with limited seating capacity, and will take place in the Camp de Mart gardens (Auditorium Theatre and presentation marquee).
The activities related to Talayotic Menorca are as follows:
1.-Talayotic Menorca stand at the Rome in the Museums of the World fair:
-Schedules:
24/5/24: from 5 to 8 pm
25/5/24: from 10 am to 2 pm and from 5 pm to 8:30 pm
26/5/24: from 10 am to 2 pm
2.- Historical recreation Funditores Baleares, The warriors of the Balearic Islands.
The Romans knew Menorca and Mallorca because the slingers born on these islands threw stones with more skill than anyone else. There will be a historical re-enactment complemented by the explanations of archaeologist Borja Corral, who will place the audience in the context of the final Talayotic period. At the same time, a Talayotic family and the slingers will perform actions that will serve to "illustrate" some of the domestic tasks or rituals that might have been carried out during that period. Organised by Amics del Museu de Menorca with the collaboration of Honderos de la Menor and the Federació de Tir amb Fona Balear - Unión Excursionista de Menorca.
-Schedules:
25/5/24: 12 am (Catalan) and 7:30 pm (Spanish)
26/5/24: 12 am (catalan)
3.- Sling making workshop The Balearic sling, learn how to make your own sling.
By Lluís Pons Livermore from Honderos de la Menor and the Federació de Tir amb Fona Balear - Unión Excursionista de Menorca. The slingshot is one of the oldest devices in the world, the use of which is documented in many parts of the world. The Talayotic people, enrolled as mercenaries in the Carthaginian and Roman armies, used it as a dangerous weapon. In this workshop, one of the best marksmen in the world will show different types of slings and projectiles, teach how to weave a sling and how to throw with the technique of the Menorcan slingers (tennis balls).
-Schedules:
25/5/24: 10:30 am (Catalan)
26/5/24: 10:30 am (Spanish)
4.-Presentation of the book Talayotic Menorca, World Heritage. An island cyclopean odyssey and Talaiòtica beer tasting.
This new book from the Sitjot collection is a journey through the long process of Menorca's Talayotic candidacy, which culminated successfully on September 18 last with its inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Joaquim Pons, archaeologist and co-author with Cipriano Marín, will be in charge of presenting the book at Tarraco Viva.
Afterwards, archaeologist Borja Corral will give an informal talk on gastronomy in the Talayotic and Roman periods in Menorca. Special attention will be paid to products such as wine, beer and cheese. This will be followed by an explanation of these products in modern times and a tasting of Talaiòtica beer and cheese from Maó. By Roger Villa, master brewer of Grahame Pearce.
-Timetable:
25/5/25: 12:30 am (Catalan).