A multimethod approach to the genesis of Menga, a World Heritage megalith

A groundbreaking multimethod approach has successfully established the construction date of Menga, one of Europe's most remarkable megaliths and part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Antequera Dolmens. This study overcame longstanding challenges in determining the temporality of Neolithic monuments that were not primarily used for burial and experienced prolonged use, which often obscures early material records. By analyzing 29 fresh numerical ages—including radiocarbon dating, optically stimulated luminescence, thermoluminescence, and uranium-thorium dating—the research team pinpointed Menga's genesis and contextualized it within its social and cultural milieu. This breakthrough offers new interpretations of the dolmen's role in local and supralocal processes, providing critical insights into early social complexity during the Neolithic period.

García Sanjuán, L., Medialdea, A., Balsera Nieto, V., Athanassas, C., Pike, A., Standish, C. D., Dias, M. I., Rodrigues, A. L., Clavero Toledo, J. L., Wheatley, D. W., & Cintas-Peña, M. (2022). A multimethod approach to the genesis of Menga, a World Heritage megalith. Quaternary Research, 111, 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1017/qua.2022.33