Drought Uncovered “Spanish Stonehenge” That Was Submerged Underwater For Decades
1080 Wildlife ProductionsThe Dolmen de Guadalperal, or “Spanish Stonehenge,” from above. Archaeologists hope to get the ancient structure moved before it is flooded again.
For archaeologists, severe changes in climate in recent years have been both a blessing and a curse. That was certainly the case when news surfaced that the extreme drought in Spain uncovered the 7,000-year-old Dolmen de Guadalperal, a megalithic monument made up of 144 standing stones formed in a circle, much like England’s famed Stonehenge.
Located in the province of Cáceres, the drought revealed the entirety of the monument, which had been submerged since the Spanish government built a dam nearby in 1963. It was first discovered by German archaeologist Hugo Obermaier in the 1920s.
“I had seen parts of it peeking out from the water before, but this is the first time I’ve seen it in full,” said Angel Castaño, president of the local cultural association. “It’s spectacular because you can appreciate the entire complex for the first time in decades.”
Known as the “Spanish Stonehenge,” archaeologists believe the Dolmen de Guadalperal was built sometime in the 5th millennium B.C. as a burial place and temple to worship the sun.
Now that the historical artifact has emerged, local experts are pushing for its relocation to higher, drier grounds as the waters are expected to come back again.
