The Antequera Dolmens: Megaliths Aligned on a Mountain
Andalusia, Spain
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Dolmen de Menga
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275
XP
+100 Spain
= 375 total
1 day
The Antequera Dolmens: Megaliths Aligned on a Mountain
275 + 100 XP
Michael Hoskin found that 99.99% of dolmens around the Mediterranean are oriented on the sky — usually sunrise at the equinoxes, as the Viera dolmen here is. Menga is not. Menga is aligned on the anthropomorphic profile of the Peña de los Enamorados, and specifically on the Matacabras shelter on it, where there is rock painting. El Romeral is aligned on the Torcal, where the Cueva del Toro is, and on the midday sun at the winter solstice. UNESCO listed all four elements — two dolmens, a tholos and two mountains — in 2016.
Required Activities
1
of 5
Go into Menga and sight down the corridor at the Peña de los Enamorados, which is what it points at
2
of 5
Work out how unusual that is: 99.99% of Mediterranean dolmens are oriented on the sky, and this one is not
3
of 5
Go into the Viera dolmen next door, which is oriented on equinox sunrise like everything else
4
of 5
Go to the tholos of El Romeral and work out its double alignment — the Torcal, and the winter solstice midday sun
5
of 5
Find the intermediate pillars inside Menga, a solution used nowhere else, holding up capstones at the limit of what the type could carry
Go into Menga and sight down the corridor at the Peña de los Enamorados, which is what it points at
Work out how unusual that is: 99.99% of Mediterranean dolmens are oriented on the sky, and this one is not
Go into the Viera dolmen next door, which is oriented on equinox sunrise like everything else
Go to the tholos of El Romeral and work out its double alignment — the Torcal, and the winter solstice midday sun
Find the intermediate pillars inside Menga, a solution used nowhere else, holding up capstones at the limit of what the type could carry
Before you go
The Viera dolmen faces the sunrise at the equinoxes, and El Romeral the midday sun at the winter solstice.
Closed on Mondays and some afternoons — check hours. El Romeral is a short drive from the other two, not a walk.
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Challenge Location
XP Breakdown
Challenge XP
275 XP
Spain country bonus
+100 XP
Potential total
375 XP
Country bonus earned on completion of your first challenge in Spain.
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