As seen on 17/10/2024 CE
Images
As seen on 17/10/2024 CE
As seen on 17/10/2024 CE
This grindstone was found in an excavated house in the settlement of Cala Morell. Over 125 of these stones have been found across the island. They are all of the same rock type and all come from one location. This is the first one to be found in situ.
A naveta dwelling, excavated and reconstructed. One house has been fully excavated and the excavation of a second house is currently ongoing. The naveta settlement is situated on a high coastal promontory within sight of the necropolis. It’s an intriguing place, well worth a visit.
One of the caves of the necropolis. A couple of the caves have rock cut pools in front of the door. These are thought to be ritual pools. There are also rock-cut slabs inside of the caves where the bodies of the dead were prepared. Part of the preparation of the body was to remove locks of hair, some of which were dyed red, and placed into hollowed-out bones which were then placed into a small hole within the cave. The museum in Mahon has a number of these bone tubes.
The caves were occupied by hippies in the 60’s and 70’s therefore signs of occupation of the caves are recent and not prehistoric.
Image credit: Chris Bickerton
Rock cut water gully
Image credit: Chris Bickerton
Note the green slime in the porch pool to one of the bigger caves
Image credit: Chris Bickerton
Looking out of the big cave with green slime porch pool
Image credit: Chris Bickerton
Image credit: Chris Bickerton
The view from the mainest chamber ( I hesitate to call it the Kings chamber but look at that view )
Image credit: Chris Bickerton
I called this one the kings chamber as it is seperate from all the others except the smaller queens chamber next door and look at that view
Image credit: Chris Bickerton
Can I call this cave the” queens chamber” with the “kings chamber” next door it is set apart from all the others and looks out to the bay
Image credit: Chris Bickerton
There’s a rock pool with wobbly stepping stones to cross to get into this cave on the south of the ravine
Image credit: Sals
Another cave even has a chimney for its fire
Image credit: Sals
There’s a fire pit carved into the floor in one of the caves
Image credit: Sals
Notice the gutter and rainwater trough ...
Image credit: Sals
Image credit: Moth Clark
Image credit: Moth Clark
Image credit: Moth Clark
Image credit: Moth Clark
Articles
In Copes TME he warns us about the potholed road down to the necropolis but it has since been tarmac’d and is now a nice smooth drive.
I tried to get the kids interested by saying who’s up for a picnic at the city of the dead, but it didn’t go down as well as I’d hoped so I dragged them along anyway. After the strop had ended they got into the spirit of exploration, and I was just amazed by the place and the more we explored the more amazed I became. Perhaps it was because it was my first actual necropolis, perhaps it was that holiday feeling but this place was just another world. We saw our first wild Tortoise here, the obligatory wall lizards which interested me and the kids as much as the caves did. On the southern side of the gorge are some weird caves with rock cut pools on their porch, one of which was dry the other full of water and some ‘orrible green slime, are they for some ritual purpose or just a status symbol, rock cut water gullies around the place indicate that water was a big deal, due to the lack of no doubt.
Before you reach the ravine with the majority of the caves, back up the road, are what I called the king and queens chamber two big caves with windowed patitions, with a great view down to the beach, maybe it’s because i’m
British but the bay and the seashore looked like another planet, not like anything I’d seen before. Inbetween all the big posh caves are smaller caves big enough for 2 or 3 people to curl up in, what could these have been for?
This is one must see place!
On the north west coast of the island; approaching Cuitadella from Mao on the main road, turn left as signposted just on the outskirts of Cuitadella and follow the road to the coast.
When you reach Cala Morell, turn left at the roundabout at the top of the cliff and head down towards the beach – the necropolis is on your left as the road bends right, and there are parking places just before that on the right, overlooking the beautiful bay. Open access, no fee.
It was quite busy when we visited, though many fellow visitors weren’t venturing into the caves at all.
At north west end of the island lies the wonderful Cala Morell caves complex (see pages 302 and 303 of TME).
Dozens of spacious rock cut chambers line a limestone ravine apparently used originally as tombs and maybe later as dwellings.
The craftsmanship involved in cutting the rock was extraordinary. Internal pillars, decorated doorways (similar to those I saw in Turkey and Cyprus) and raised platforms vied for our attention with drainage systems, water storage features and sockets for carpentry.
Brilliant!
Sites within 20km of Cala Morell Necropolis
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Ses Arenes de Baix
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Montefí Talayotic settlement
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Es Tudons
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Torre Llafuda
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Torre Trencada
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Son Catlar
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Son Olivaret Nou
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Es Migjorn Gran
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Sant Agusti Vell
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Sant Agusti 'Bonus' Talaiot
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Santa Monica
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