-_monumentalidades_prehist%25C3%25B3ricas_del_Bajo_Guadiana_-_Menhir._Cara_frontal_oeste_con_grabados.jpg) A standing stone of the site | |
 Interactive map of Barpa Langass | |
| Location | Andalusia,Spain |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 37°19′59.16″N7°24′20.88″W / 37.3331000°N 7.4058000°W /37.3331000; -7.4058000 |
| Type | Archaeological site |
| History | |
| Founded | c. 4000 BC |
| Abandoned | c. 3500 BC |
| Site notes | |
| Discovered | 2018 |
TheLa Torre-La Janera megalithic site is located in the municipalities ofAyamonte andVillablanca in theprovince of Huelva,Andalusia. It was discovered in 2018 when a farmer intended to prepare the land to cultivate avocados and in view of the archaeological potential of the site the local council demanded a survey to be made.[1] It is considered to be one of the largest megalithic site in Europe with over 500 standing stones.[2]
The site is in the municipalities of Ayamonte and Villablanca at about 2.5 km to the west of theGuadiana River and some fifteen km from theAtlantic Ocean in the south.[3] It was built though near the coastline as some 6,000 to 4,000 years ago, the sea level was two meters higher.[1] The megaliths are in about 90 hectares that are part of a 600 hectare large ruralestate.[3]
The megalithic site was discovered in 2018 as in view of the archaeological potential of the site, the local council decided to execute a survey through whichmenhirs,dolmens, burial grounds were unearthed.[1] Following theRegional Government of Andalusia divided the area into four divisions mostly reserved for archeological investigations, and agricultural use is only permitted on about 220 hectares of the site.[3] It has at least 6 surrounding terraces and a quarries forgreywacke andconglomerate
La Torre - La Jarena is described as the largest megalithic site in Europe, with hundreds of standing stones, several dolmens and geometric alignments.[1]
There are severaldolmens on the site, who stand out for the small size of their chambers.[4] Some stand alone, others in groups and they were up to half a meter high.[4] Forming circles or ovals, the several dolmens diameters spanned from six to seventeen meters and forty-one coffins hewn in stone have also been found within them.[1]
So far, 526 standing stones were revealed during the survey, either still standing or lying on the surface.[2] Most of the ones in an alignment of a geometric form are lying on the ground.[5]
There are two alignments: one isU-shaped or horseshoe-shaped, and the other isH-shaped.[6] The third one is an elliptic one.[6] They seem to have been created and are assembled on a hilly surface.[7] The elliptic one is within an area of almost 2 hectares and 200 meters long in its long diameter.[7] It has at least six surrounding terraces and a quarry forGreywacke.[7] TheH spans 100 meters length, 80 meters width and is composed by three interconnected walls which include six menhirs.[8]
It is assumed that the first megaliths were erected in the 5th or 4th Millennia BC[9] while most constructions are thought to have been erected between 3750 and 3500 BC.[5]Eucalyptus have been planted in the region, and the area has also been affected by the construction of awind farm in 2008.[3]