To step inside the Dolmen of Menga is to step into another world, where awe is the first and most natural reaction. Built nearly 6,000 years ago, this ancient structure still stands, its massive stones—some weighing up to 150 metric tons—perfectly intact.

The sheer scale of this construction hints at a sophisticated, multidisciplinary understanding of engineering principles. And indeed, a recent study confirms that the Neolithic people who built Menga were highly skilled, possessing advanced knowledge and the ability to solve complex engineering challenges.

"What initially drew me to the Menga dolmen was its sheer monumentality," said geoarchaeologist José Antonio Lozano Rodríguez of the Canary Islands Oceanographic Center in Spain, speaking to ScienceAlert. "Standing inside this colossal Neolithic monument sparked my curiosity to learn more."

The builders of Menga were no ordinary stoneworkers; they were masters of early science, reflecting a society with evolved intellectual, practical, and technical capacities in southern Iberia nearly 6,000 years ago.

Interior view of the Dolmen of Menga.

The Dolmen of Menga is a true marvel of the ancient world. Constructed between 3800 and 3600 BCE, the chamber extends 27.5 meters (90 feet) within an earth mound, with walls and roof lined with enormous stones. It is one of the largest megalithic structures in ancient Europe, and its capstone, weighing an estimated 150 metric tons, is among the heaviest stones ever moved during the Neolithic period.

Evidence suggests that the dolmen was used for funerary purposes, with grave goods reportedly found inside, highlighting its significance. Previous studies have shown that considerable labor was required to build it.

Lozano Rodríguez has led research revealing that the dolmen's asymmetrical walls were intentionally designed to align with the solstices. The soft rock used in its construction was sourced from about a kilometer (0.6 miles) away, demonstrating the builders' expertise in quarrying and transporting massive stones.

Diagram illustrating how the dolmen was constructed, and the engineering principles thereof.

The Dolmen of Menga's structure consists of a chamber with large stones lining the walls and roof, supported by three stone pillars along its length. The 32 giant stones collectively weigh around 1,140 metric tons.

To understand how these rocks were placed, Lozano Rodríguez and his team conducted a multidisciplinary analysis involving sedimentology, archaeology, paleontology, and petrology.

One of the greatest challenges would have been transporting the large stones, which required a solid understanding of friction. The researchers suggest that the stones were likely transported using sledges on a pre-built wooden trackway. Since the quarry was uphill from the construction site, this would have necessitated knowledge of acceleration and braking.

The stones are classified as "soft" sedimentary rocks, mostly limestone, requiring careful handling to prevent damage. Despite this, they were placed with millimeter precision, interlocking and leaning slightly against each other—an indication of the method and order in which they were set.

Remarkably, the stones are tightly wedged into the bedrock, a feature observed for the first time in 200 years of study at Menga. The deep sockets in which the stones are set would have required the use of counterweights and descending ramps to carefully slide them into position and then lever them upright. This deep foundation also eliminated the need to elevate the roof stones.

The pillar stones were placed similarly, with deep foundations, likely after the wall stones were set. The wall stones lean slightly inward at the top, giving the chamber a trapezoidal shape—narrower at the top than at the bottom. This design is considered a stroke of genius, allowing for smaller capstones than would have been needed for a wider roof.

"Nearly 6,000 years ago, they used a relieving arch to solve complex problems of stress distribution, effectively addressing one of the biggest structural challenges in designing this great monument," Lozano Rodríguez marvels. "I was also surprised to find that the monument was partially buried, allowing the capstones to be placed without the need for ascending ramps."

The Dolmen of Menga still holds many lessons for us today—not only in ancient building techniques but also in the ingenuity of Neolithic humans and the importance of maintaining an open mind about the capabilities of our ancestors.

"The incorporation of advanced knowledge in geology, physics, geometry, and astronomy shows that Menga represents not just a feat of early engineering but a significant milestone in the advancement of human science," the researchers conclude in their paper. "Menga is a testament to the successful creation of a colossal monument that has endured for millennia."

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