Island of Stone is probably the most accurate description of Menorca. It has more ancient remains than any other Mediterranean island - burial mounds, villages, places of worship, strange T-shaped rock constructions reminiscent of Stonehenge. During the Roman occupation of the island, the Menorquins were the most renowned stone throwers in the known world and were recruited to serve with the Roman legions. 

In more recent times the abundant supply of natural stone was used to create more dry stonewalls per hectare than are to be found anywhere else in the world. And that skill still remains as the visitor can see immaculate repairs being made to damaged walls. 

This small island is packed not only with pre-history, but also more than its fair share of modern history. The Romans were succeeded by the Moors as occupiers for several hundred years (witness the Moorish prefix “Bini”, as in Binibeca or the prefix “Al”, as in Alaior). 

Spain controlled the island after the departure of the Moors, principally through the House of Aragon. The island was invaded and desecrated by Moslem pirates in revenge against the Pope’s navies. The legendary Barbarossa (curiously enough the son of a Greek Orthodox priest) sacked Mahón and 20 or so years later Turkish pirates decimated Ciutadella

The British became the next occupiers during the late 17th century, drawn to Mahón’s magnificent and safe natural harbour because of the increasing British trade in the Mediterranean. The most important British Governor was Sir Richard Kane whose tenure lasted 25 years and during which time he had Kane’s road built from Mahón to Ciutadella (previously there were just paths) and introduced cattle to the island (almost entirely black and white Friesians, which can still be seen everywhere).  

The French occupied the island for a relatively short period during which they built the town of San Luis and then the British returned before handing the island back to Spain in 1802. 

So, the visitor can appreciate that there is a lot more to the island than might at first be apparent. Menorquins have survived with their traditions and spirit intact all through a turbulent history.  

The strange and mysterious prehistoric stone ‘Taulas’

"T” shaped monuments set in a roughly horseshoe-shaped stone precinct and found only in Menorca - have always defied rational explanation. Many and varied have been the theories put forward, from prosaic ‘roof-beam support’ or the spine-chilling ‘raised altar for human sacrifice’, ‘to the plain wacky‘ idealized representation of the face of the bull god’.

During the Bronze Age the Talayotic Civilization which built the Taulas (1,300- 800 BC) watched a very different night sky to our own, the most striking heavenly body of their day was none other than the Southern Cross (nowadays better known to those who live in Australia and New Zealand!).

Studies have been completed which demonstrate that each of the Taulas is precisely aligned with either the rising or the setting of this spectacular constellation, which would have appeared to cross the Mediterranean as a breathtaking procession of brilliant stars, clearly visible to the naked eye. The Taulas and their precincts, always found close to a Talayot tower and stone village, would have served as the focus for religious ceremonies. Also, an important part of training for the priesthood would have been an apprenticeship in the secret ways in which the orientation of each Taula could be used in the prediction of the astronomic events with which the year’s calendar of religious ceremonies and festivals would coincide. The custom which has persisted to the present day, for this is the way we still calculate when Easter and all its associated festivals like Ash Wednesday, Mothering Sunday, Whitsun, etc. will occur each year.  It’s nothing less than amazing that these early people, whom we often like to think of as primitive, were intellectually capable of planning and positioning their monuments based on a body of carefully noted astral observations. So they were able to achieve this feat and some 30 centuries later all clues are still in place to pass on their ideas and knowledge to those of us who come after.

Which of our own monuments will be capable of communicating some of the ideas and achievements of our age to the people who are alive in the 50th century AD?

THE CAVE OF ES MUSSOL

In recent years several caves containing very interesting archaeological remains have been discovered. Approximately four years ago, two wooden carvings were found in the cave of Es Mussol located in the cliffs on the NW coast of Menorca, close to Ciutadella. They represented two male faces, one of which had animal features possibly goat horns.

In order to know the age of these remains, tiny five-gram pieces were carefully extracted from the woodenheads and they were sent to be analysed at a carbon-dating laboratory in Miami. The samples were analysed using Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) and the results were very surprising.

The wooden faces have been dated to 1200 BC. Both items are the most important archaeological finding of recent years in Europe, since the oldest wooden carved item known up to this point was dated 830 BC and was found in Ireland, clearly linked to the Celtic culture.

In 1200 BC the cave of Es Mussol would have been used as a sanctuary. It had three small connected chambers entered through a narrow corridor, The wooden carvings were found on the deepest chamber. It was probably a place dedicated to deities related to the underground world and to fertility, clearly masculine divinities of a patriarchal society. However the patriarchal rituals did not exist in those days in either the Balearic or Mediterranean area where matriarchal rituals were followed.

Therefore, very cautiously, one could consider that the men and the women who used the cave of Es Mussol as a sanctuary were related more to other cultures than that of the Mediterranean or Balearics, such as cultures in Northern and Western Europe, especially the Celts.  

Museums

MUSEO DE MENORCA - MUSEUM OF MENORCA

Monestir de San Francisco, Plaça des Monestir, Maó. Tel. 971 350955
Abril-Septiembre / April to September: 
Martes a Sábados / Tuesday to Saturday
10.00 - 14.00 + 17.00 - 20.00 
Domingos / Sunday: 10.00 - 14.00 
English guide books and video available. This beautifully restored building is home to many artefacts discovered on the Island throughout its history and tells the history of Menorca from ancient times. 

ATENEO CIENTIFICO, LITERARIO Y ARTISTICO
CULTURAL & SCIENTIFIC CENTRE

Cifuentes, 25, Maó: Tel. 971 360553
Lunes a Viernes / Monday to Friday
10.00 - 14.00 + 16.00 - 22.00
Sábado / Saturday: 10.00-14.00 + 17.00-21.00

MOLI DE DALT - WINDMILL 

Sant Luis, Tel. 971 151084
Lunes - Viernes / Monday - Friday : 10.00-13.00 y 19.00-21.00
Sábado / Saturday: 9.00 - 13.00
Domingos y Festivos / Sunday & Holidays:10.00 - 13.00
Housed in an old windmill this museum is an agricultural and folk museum.

FORT MALBOROUGH

MUSEO MUNICIPAL DE CIUTADELLA
MUNICIPAL MUSEUM OF CIUTADELLA

MUSEO MILITAR -- MILITARY MUSEUM

Plaza Explanada, Es Castell. Tel. 971 362100
Lunes y Jueves / Monday & Thursday 11.00 - 13.00

MUSEO DE LA NATURA DE MENORCA -MENORCA MUSEUM OF NATURE

MUSEU DIOCESÀ DE MENORCA