A new study has revealed that the Cova da Menga, an ancient monument in Spain, is one of the greatest civil engineering feats of the Stone Age: The discovery shows that our ancestors had much more advanced scientific knowledge than previously thought
A Menga CaveAlso known as Menga Dolmen, was discovered in 2020 in Antequera, south of Spain. Seemingly simple, this gallery-shaped tomb was built around 5.800 years and already impressed with its grandeur. However, a new study published in Science Advances magazine brought to light even more intriguing details about the construction, according to the website olhardigital.
With a structure formed by megaliths – gigantic stones – and a design that involved millimeter precision, the monument surprises even modern experts. According to the study, no modern civil engineer could replicate the work with the same resources and tools available at the time. In other words, the ancient builders not only knew the science of physics and material properties, as well as masterfully applying this knowledge.
Ancient technology: much more than just blocks of stone
One of the most fascinating aspects of this construction is the process of waterproofing. "No modern technology here!“, joke the researchers. The waterproofing was done with layers of smaller rocks and soil, protecting the structure from the elements and ensuring its preservation to this day. Without this technique, the monument would have collapsed in the course of time.
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Scholars also discovered that the stones used came from a quarry located about 850 meters away. This extremely porous material required specialized handling to avoid damage. In addition, the megaliths were placed in such a way that they fit together perfectly, locking each other, which gives the construction impressive stability.
Advanced physics without calculations? Believe it or not!
Another point that impresses is the scientific knowledge applied in the construction of Cova da Menga. Even without modern sciences such as mathematics or geometry, ancient architects knew intuitively about principles of Physics as center of mass, friction e ideal inclination for ramps. Furthermore, the arrangement of the stones made the most of their physical properties, something that reveals a deep understanding of civil engineering.
The dolmen was built so that its entrance aligned with the sunrise in Summer Solstice, and the sun's rays illuminated the bottom of the main chamber. This detail suggests that the people of the time had a strong cultural and religious connection with the Sun, a recurring theme in several buildings megaliths around the world.
The relationship between megalithic monuments around the world
The Cova da Menga is not an isolated monument. Research indicates that other megalithic structures scattered around the world, such as the Ireland, Sweden and Morocco, share striking similarities in their architecture and relationship with the SOL. This raises questions about whether these ancient cultures, although separated by great distances, had similar beliefs or knowledge.
These megalithic works, including the Cova da Menga, demonstrate that our ancestors were much more than simple survivors; they were skilled engineers, scientists and astronomers in their own time.
The genius of Stone Age peoples
Recent discoveries about Cova da Menga change the way we see the people of Stone Age. The monument, built over 5.000 years ago, reveals a level of civil engineering and scientific knowledge that many would not have imagined existed at that time. This masterpiece of prehistory is proof that, although resources were limited, human genius never was. And, let's face it, our ancestors knew very well what they were doing.