Neolithic engineers used scientific principles to build massive stone megalith

The megalithic monuments of the Neolithic era—consisting of large stones and peculiar architecture—have long perplexed archeologists and researchers.

Menga dolmen, situated on the Iberian Peninsula in southern Spain, is one such ancient marvel. It is a mysterious-looking massive structure made using 32 giant stones.

A team of experts led by José Antonio Lozano Rodríguez from the Canary Islands Oceanographic Center (COC) conducted a detailed examination to understand how this enormous monument was created thousands of years ago.

“Initially, what most sparked my interest in the Menga dolmen was its monumentality. Entering its interior and contemplating such a colossal monument from the Neolithic period, aroused my curiosity to learn more about this dolmen,” Rodríguez told Interesting Engineering (IE).

This new study proposes that the Neolithic builders of the Menga likely understood the basic principles of physics and geology. “We can say that Neolithic societies were capable of solving very complex problems,” he added.

Understanding of scientific principles

Menga dolmen is a massive burial mound that was created around 5,700 years ago. Previous excavation work has found the remains of several hundred ancient individuals. It has been acclaimed as one of the most impressive structures of the Neolithic era.

This site features two natural formations and four megaliths, the largest and oldest of which is named Menga. It also has a massive capstone weighing up to 1,140 tons. The entire construction is supported by large pillars.

The team examined each element and deduced the possible underlying science the ancient people applied. This made them conclude that ancient architects may have been aware of some scientific principles, such as friction and geometry.

“One of the most important principles that leads us to think that we are talking about early engineering is the fact that almost 6000 years ago they used relieving arches to solve complex problems of stress distribution,” Rodríguez explained.

“Thus solving problems related to weight, which would be one of the biggest structural problems they would have found in the design of this great monument. They also solved this by using pillars inside.”

Various elements ensured stability

The roof of the site was made of capstone boulders with a soft-to-moderately soft texture. Interestingly, these capstones were moved carefully along a specially designed trackway to avoid friction.

“Transporting these rocks and placing them in the building requires advanced knowledge of an emerging science. We cannot forget that capstone 5 weighs 150 tons. It is the heaviest rock in prehistory for a dolmen,” noted the author.

“The design indicates that the building was buried in the ground, to be able to place the capstones without the need for any ramp. They made cuts in the stones so that they rested on each other and could thus distribute the vector forces related to the weight,” Rodríguez highlighted.

Furthermore, Menga’s upright stones suggested that the supporting wall stones were carefully angled to create a trapezoidal effect. This, combined with interlocking facets and wedging into bedrock, ensured the stability of the structure.

“There was early scientific knowledge and an extraordinary inventive brilliance among the Neolithic communities of the south of the Iberian Peninsula almost 6000 years ago. With sophisticated knowledge of engineering, geology, geometry, and astronomy,” he concluded.

The findings were published in the journal Science Advances.