Neolithic Engineers: How a Giant Stone Monument Predating Stonehenge Demonstrated Advanced Scientific Understanding

The Step Pyramid of Djoser one of the earliest Egyptian structures built from stone, and The iconic Stonehenge In England, some remarkable constructions from ancient builders stand out. However, approximately 1,000 years prior to their creation, Neolithic inhabitants in Spain erected an enormous stone chamber featuring a massive capstone weighing around 150 tons, which is roughly five times heavier than the aforementioned structure’s heaviest component. heaviest megalith at Stonehenge .

Dating back to somewhere between 3600 and 3800 B.C.E., this ancient edifice, referred to as theصند Menga dolmen , was one of the largest European prehistoric stone structures. Additionally, based on an analysis featured in the journal Science Advances A week ago, it was built with an exceptional degree of scientific insight.

"I have consistently marveled at the engineering prowess required to construct this dolmen," he states. Michael Parker Pearson , an archaeologist from University College London who did not participate in the research, to Nature News Roff Smith states, "This article demonstrates the remarkable precision required for this task, paying close attention to measurements and angles. Given the size of these massive stones, any errors during their placement would have had severe consequences."

The Menga dolmen is a roughly 82-foot-long chamber topped with an earthy mound, constructed from 32 massive stone slabs for its roof, walls, and pillars. These stones collectively weigh around 1,140 tons—more substantial even than two fully-loaded Boeing 747 aircrafts, as reported. CNN It’s Katie Hunt. Although the purpose of the chamber remains unclear, scientists propose that it had a funerary role.

“At first, what caught my attention about the Menga dolmen was its grand scale,” José Antonio Lozano Rodríguez , a geologist from the Spanish Institute of Oceanography and the lead author of the study, shares her insights Interesting Engineering It’s Mrigakshi Dixit. "Stepping inside and reflecting on such an enormous structure from the Neolithic era sparked my interest to delve deeper into learning more about this dolmen."

The research group performed a geoarchaeological study of the location by reviewing laser scan data and images from previous digs, along with ethnographic accounts of construction methods and the region’s landscape. Using these details, they deduced how the Neolithic engineers built their structures.

A previous study by the same group had previously confirmed that the stones were obtained from 0.6 miles distant At a quarry located at a strategic high point above the Menga dolmen, the constructors probably moved the stones via sleds along tracks constructed from wooden beams. This approach suggests an understanding of friction, acceleration, and center of mass.

Upon arriving at the location, the stones forming the walls and pillars were positioned vertically within extensive trenches, ensuring that approximately one-third of each stone remained beneath the surface, as reported by CNN. Constructors likely accomplished this through the use of counterweights and inclined planes, which needed to account for the comparatively fragile nature of the sandstone, prone to damage due to its softer composition. The stones in the walls were intricately cut to fit together snugly and incline towards one another, thereby enhancing the overall structural integrity.

"These individuals had no plans to guide them, and, to our knowledge, they lacked prior experience in constructing anything of this nature," said the study's co-author. Leonardo García Sanjuán , an archaeologist from the University of Seville in Spain, states Nature News There’s absolutely no chance you could accomplish that without having at least a fundamental understanding of science.

The walls slope gently towards each other, forming an angle ranging from 84 to 85 degrees, which gives the room a trapezoid-like structure where the ceiling is smaller than the floor. Among the five capstones, the biggest one was sculpted to enhance load dispersion—similarly to how basic arches work—with its peak positioned above its edges.

"To the best of our knowledge, this is the first instance where the concept of the arch has been recorded in human history," says García Sanjuán. New Scientist ’s Tom Leslie.

Constructing the chamber with its walls partly below ground allowed the capstones to be positioned on top without requiring significant height for lifting them. The builders subsequently excavated the interior space to decrease the floor level of the chamber, while the exterior was buried under soil to enhance insulation and provide additional stability to the structure.

We must refer to this as science," García Sanjuán explains to CNN. "Historically, we haven't discussed Neolithic-era science simply because we're overly conceited to believe these ancient people were capable of conducting science like we do." He continues, "Were an engineer from today to attempt constructing Menga using the materials available 6,000 years ago, I doubt they would succeed.