...and suddenly Spring bursts in

 

Talatí de Dalt. 2022.

Continuing with my intention of revisiting all the T shaped monuments called 'Taula' on the island, this afternoon I went to Talatí de Dalt.

At the entrance to the ruins of Talatí de Dalt there is a talayot. The structure of the settlement is divided into the public area, with a sanctuary and central taula, and the private area, with houses and hypostyle chambers (storage rooms). This taula is unusual in that it is balanced against a column which must have fallen against it accidentally, but which is still in equilibrium today.

Taula Sanctuary

The finds located during the excavations shed light on the trype of diet people had by then. The study of the bones that were found gives us informations about what the inhabitants of this settlement had.

Storage chambers

Goats. For meat and milk.

Sheep. Their wool was posibly used to produce textiles.

Pigs. Their fat was very important since olive oil was not produced in Menorca yet in this period.

Oxen. Possibly used as draught animals for transportation and plowing.

Cows. For meat and milk to make cheese. 

Camí de Cavalls. Els Alocs to Benimel.lá

The "Cami de Cavalls" is a hiking route that borders Menorca in its entirety. Sometimes it runs a few meters from the shore and other times it goes into the interior of the island.

Years ago, the young people used to go around the island in stages. Today it is a tourist attraction and in summer many people go hiking, although the hardest stages are not usually done in summer due to the heat.

The geological wealth of this area is remarkable. On the other hand, the vegetation is scarce and in general there is little natural life. At least we didn't find much on this cold February morning.

This is one of the least easy stages since, although the distance to be covered is not very long - about twelve kilometers - it crosses some quite inhospitable landscapes and some impressive cliffs over the sea.

Na Beltrana

 

Another of the prehistoric religious sites called Taulas. This one in Ferreries. In a farm called Na Beltrana

Son Rotger.

Experts believe that there are 33 of these monuments from the Neolithic Era. It might be there were more but they were either destroyed or just they have not survived to this day.

In any case, I was determined to find this winter some of those that are not easily accessible and this is one of them.

Just before entering the town of Cala en Porter, by road with a gate entitled 'Sant Vicent' which leads to the farm of San Rotger can be seen. In the bush on the right side  lies a talayot (block piled tower). And on the eastern rocky foot of the talayot, a headless taula with scratches stands. Curiously, this taula does not stand on the rocky foot level but in a pit like a bathtub with other pillar stones.