Medieval Burials Reveal Menga Dolmen’s Cultural Legacy

The Menga dolmen, an ancient Neolithic monument located in Antequera, Spain, has revealed new insights into its cultural significance through a study that combines DNA analysis of medieval burials with historical context. Dating back to the fourth millennium BCE, this UNESCO World Heritage site has served as a burial and ritual location for various communities over thousands of years. The findings were published on January 14, 2026, in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports.

This megalithic structure, characterized by a long chamber and access corridor covered by an earthen mound, was originally used for collective burials by Neolithic communities. Evidence from pottery and human remains indicates that the dolmen continued to be utilized during later historical periods, especially between the 2nd and 4th centuries AD, when significant funerary activities occurred. The recent study highlights two specific burials from medieval times, dated approximately to the 8th century AD and the 11th century AD, based on radiocarbon dating of skeletal remains.

The research team noted that the remains were poorly preserved, making it difficult to establish genetic relationships between the individuals. Despite this, similarities in the positioning of the burials were evident. Both individuals were found with their heads lying on their right side and facing southwest, aligned with the monument’s axis of symmetry. Their faces were directed toward the southeast, a detail that suggests a potential connection to Islamic burial practices.

At the time of these burials, the Iberian Peninsula was under Islamic rule, coexisting with Christian, Jewish, and possibly pagan communities. The blending of burial rituals observed in these remains reflects the complex cultural tapestry of medieval Iberia. The authors of the study stated, “The position and orientation of the remains, together with the radiocarbon dates, could be indicative of Islamic burials.” However, they also acknowledged that the symbolic alignment with the Menga dolmen’s axis complicates the interpretation of these burials within the multicultural society of the time.

DNA analysis conducted on the individuals revealed a diverse genetic lineage, particularly for the individual designated as “Menga1.” This male displayed a European Y-chromosome lineage, while his mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) was found to share connections with some modern North Africans. The autosomal DNA analysis uncovered a mix of 44% Iberian, 18% North African, and 37% Levantine ancestry.

The study’s authors highlighted that North African-related ancestry had been present in southern Iberia since at least the 3rd or 4th centuries CE, likely due to extensive trade and movement across the Mediterranean fostered by Greek, Phoenician, and Carthaginian interactions, as well as later Roman influences. With the onset of the Islamic period in 711 CE, these connections with North Africa likely intensified, facilitated by shared political and cultural practices.

This research not only sheds light on the cultural diversity in medieval Spain but also emphasizes the Menga dolmen’s prolonged usage and significance over the millennia. The authors concluded, “Whoever these two individuals were—and regardless of what faith they practiced—the fact that they were both given inhumations aligned with the axis of a megalithic monument, in a site of remarkable prominence in the landscape of Antequera, approximately two centuries apart, highlights the continuity of Menga as a symbolic location for over 5000 years—and possibly even longer—well beyond the Neolithic period.”

These findings underscore the importance of the Menga dolmen as a crucial site for understanding the rich cultural history of the region, reflecting the interactions and beliefs of its diverse communities through the ages. The study, led by researchers including Marina Silva, showcases the enduring legacy of this ancient monument and its role in the historical narrative of Spain.