Dolmen de Soto
Dolmen de Soto, Trigueros
Late Neolithic to Chalcolithic·Andalusian Chalcolithic / Millares influence·🇪🇸 Andalusia, Huelva, Spain
About
About Dolmen de Soto
One of most important and longest dolmens in southern Europe on El Zancarrón hillock near Trigueros: 20.94 m passage dolmen with orthostats forming 21 m corridor leading to chamber under 60 m diameter tumulus 3.5 m high ringed by stone circle. Dated c.3000–2500 BCE, with 63 orthostats bearing engravings — crosses, dots and anthropomorphs — by lamplight. Eight bodies found plus Beaker grave goods. Discovered 1922 by Armando de Soto, declared National Monument 1931, interior electrically lit.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Engraved crosses pre-date Christian — what symbolism?
Theories
- 01Star-map or tally theory for dot-cross composition
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 3000–2500 BCE
- Period
- Late Neolithic to Chalcolithic
- Culture
- Andalusian Chalcolithic / Millares influence
- Purpose
- Collective passage dolmen with rock art
- Abandoned
- c.2000 BCE
- Rediscovered
- Discovered 1922 by Armando de Soto Morillas; excavated 1923 Obermaier
- Excavation
- Excavated
c. 3000–2500 BCE
Initial construction
c. 1433 CE
Major expansion
On the ground
Structures & features
37.3520° N · 6.7522° W · 75 m · 2 mapped features
Engraved Orthostats
decorated passage63 slate slabs with cruciform and anthropomorphic engravings
37.3520° N · 6.7522° WPeristalith Kerb
kerbStone circle of 60 m ringing tumulus
37.3520° N · 6.7521° W
Gallery