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A journey to the past in Málaga: a 5,000-year-old tomb found intact and full of mysteries
Beneath a hill in the Málaga interior, a group of archaeologists has discovered a monumental tomb over 5,000 years old that has remained sealed for millennia.
The discovery, described as “one of the most imposing and complete dolmens in Andalusia”, could rewrite part of the prehistory of the southern Iberian Peninsula.
The 13-metre-long structure, made up of enormous vertical stone slabs, preserves several burial chambers in exceptional condition. Inside, researchers found human remains accompanied by a surprisingly varied grave assemblage: ivory, amber, seashells and a flint halberd carved with millimetric precision.
“Its preservation is astonishing. It allows us to look directly into the lives and beliefs of the region’s first farming communities,” explained Eduardo Vijande, co-director of the University of Cádiz project. The use of exotic materials suggests that these peoples maintained long-distance exchange routes, in which the sea functioned as a cultural link and a symbol of prestige.
Covered by an ancient mound of stone and sand, the tomb reveals the spiritual and collective meaning of death five millennia ago. For the researchers, the dolmen is not merely a burial site: it is a time capsule, a message in stone that has withstood oblivion.