The archaeological area of Talatí de Dalt is one of the island’s most emblematic, thanks in part to its excellent state of conservation and its peculiar taula. It is composed of a Talayotic settlement and a necropolis of artificial caves, where both funeral rites and burials took place, as well as a taula sanctuary, sections of walls, Talayotic dwellings and several rooms with columns and stone roofs. This is considered a medium-sized settlement, where at the height of its occupation was home to around 100 individuals. The inhabiting community must have been livestock and agriculturally oriented, as seen from the remains of ceramics and fauna that have been found here. It remained in use until the Islamic period.
Schedule:
From April to October: from 10 am to 2 pm and from 4 pm to 8 pm (July and August: from 10 am to 9 pm)
From November to March: Free entry
Price: General - 4 euros / Seniors - 3 euros / Children under 12 - free
Open: Si
Access: Access is via the Me-1 main motorway from Maó to Ciutadella. At km 4 there is a turnoff that leads to the Cotaina country road. 200 m along this road is the car park and entrance to the site. Road signs are posted.
Car Park: Room for 10 cars and 1 minibus.
Guided tours: Visitor information panels are posted.
Contact:
Services: No
Access for individuals with reduced mobility: No
More information See map
More information: Talatí’s central talayot is partially collapsed on its eastern side and is one of the tallest known structures of its kind. The various other attached structures keep it from being seen in all of its magnificence. At the top of the talayot, we see tambours of columns in a circular layout, which most likely means that this was a living space. To the north of this talayot, a second one is hidden by vegetation.
The taula enclosure is horseshoe shaped and at the northwest and southeast corners the wall is still standing, built using regular stone blocks. At the centre of the structure is the taula, with the capital stone placed upon the base stone. What makes this monument unique is one of its side pilasters, with its corresponding capital stone, which fell and was left leaning upon the eastern side of the taula’s capital stone, such that it formed a particular T-shape. This is purely a coincidence, as chance would have it that the base of the column broke. This resulted in a monument that is unique on the entire island.
The settlement also houses a group of covered enclosures, the only one known of in all of Menorca. Excavations carried out by the Friends of the Museum of Menorca Association between 1997 and 2001 concluded that this may have been a storage area or production workshops.