Naveta des Tudons
The Naveta des Tudons is the most emblematic megalithic monument of Menorca. Is a pre-Talayotic funeral building in use from 1200 to 750 BC. The name naveta’– or ‘little boat’ in Catalan – comes from the fact that this building resembles an upside-down boat.
The Naveta des Tudons is a pre-Talayotic funeral building in use from 1200 to 750 BC. It consists of a collective tomb that, when it was excavated and restored in the 1950s, was found to contain the remains of at least 100 graves with their respective funerary belongings (bronze bracelets, bone buttons and pottery). Its walls are rubble-filled and consist of massive stones placed together without mortar. Inside there are two chambers. The small access leads on to a small passageway that connects to an upper chamber and to a second door, which leads to the lower chamber. The intermediate floor and the roof are built out of large flagstones that act as supporting beams. The name naveta’– or ‘little boat’ in Catalan – comes from the fact that this building resembles an upside-down boat. It is one of the most famous monuments on Menorca and as such has become one of the island’s cultural icons and is visited by many tourists during the year. To ensure visitors’ safety and the conservation of the monument, you are not allowed to entre the Naveta itself.
The naveta dels Tudons, from the air. Menorcaaldia.
How to get there
The Naveta des Tudons is 5 km from Ciutadella. There is a car park at kilometre 40 next to the main Maó-Ciutadella road. A short walk between the fields takes you to the monument.
There is no public transport to the Naveta des Tudons
Prices and opening times
Prices
• Consult prices of the visit to the naveta des Tudons
Opening times
• Consult visiting hours at the Naveta des Tudons according to season at this link
Nearby sites of interest
• Torretrencada: Talayotic settlement, little known and well-hidden. Its main attraction is its taula that, although lacking its enclosing walls, is interesting for the lateral column that provides support. More information about Torretrencada megalithic monument.
• Torrellafuda: Small talayotic site with unrestricted access that stands in a shady old wild-olive grove. Here you can admire a talaiot, an enclosed taula with the remains of a number of private dwellings and the rubble-filled wall that once encircled the site. More information about Torrellafuda megalithic monument.
Map of Naveta des Tudons
See the map Menorca talaiòtica in Google Maps
The Talayotic culture refer to the customs and skills of the pre-historic inhabitants of the Balearic Islands up to the Roman conquest (123 BC). Most of the archaeological remains that have been excavated –of which most are on Menorca – correspond to the so-called Talaiotic culture that can be dated from around 1,000 BC.
The Naveta des Tudons is a pre-Talayotic funeral building in use from 1200 to 750 BC. It consists of a collective tomb that was found to contain the remains of at least 100 graves…
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