Ancient 13-metre Dolmen Unearthed in Málaga Reveals Far-Reaching Trade Links
Archaeologists near Teba in Málaga have uncovered a 13-metre megalithic tomb over 5,000 years old, containing human remains and exotic grave goods.
Four field seasons led by Eduardo Vijande and Serafín Becerra revealed Dolmen I, a 13-metre long megalithic tomb near Teba, Málaga, dating to more than five millennia ago. Constructed with towering stone slabs and sealed beneath a sand-rock tumulus, the monument remains exceptionally intact, allowing detailed study of its layout and contents. Inside, several ossuary compartments held the remains of multiple individuals, indicating repeated communal use over generations.
Grave goods included ivory ornaments, amber pieces, coastal seashells and elaborate flint tools, suggesting the community participated in extensive Mediterranean exchange routes. The discovery, supported by Teba Town Council, the Palarq Foundation and the University of Cádiz, offers new insight into the social structure, ritual practices and far-reaching connections of prehistoric southern Iberia.
Why it matters
The tomb shows that prehistoric societies in inland Spain were linked to far-reaching trade networks and had complex social organization.
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