A Journey through the Stone Age in Extremadura

This journey shows us the megalithic constructions on the western Extremadura. Around Valencia de Alcántara there is one of the biggest megalithic ensembles in Europe, it is made up of 40 Neolithic Chalcolithic dolmens which are located in a small geographical area.

Dolmens around Valencia de Alcántara

This route leads us through Mountanious areas full of holm oaks and oaks that provide nourishment for animals, from the well-known Vegas del Guadiana to highest points where impresive landscapes are shown.

Through this journey we get to know where the first inhabitants of Extremadura lived and how it was their lifestyle. Mainly, the remains from Paleolithic, Neolithic and Bronze Age are on the central zone of Extremadura from West to East.

We beging our path in the Cave of Maltravieso in Cáceres. The origin was about 30.000 years ago ,aproximately. The most outstanding characteristic of the cave is the cave painting, the main motifs are hands. Painted as they were prints and their negative versions, the meaning of this action it was to show evidence of their existence in the cave. In some cases we may find incomplete hands and in some walls painted animals.

In the surrouding area of the Castle of Monfragüe there are cave paintings too.

From Cáceres qe head towards the Neolithic to visit the stone age ensemble in Valencia de Alcántara, it is known as "Planta de Anta de la Duquesa".

Around the town fifty dolmens have been found. Although they are not too big they help to understand their lifestyle in the Neolithic age. The 'mellizos', 'cajirón' or 'porqueros' stand out among all the dolmens.

Our next stopover is close to N-630 road/A-66 highway, near Aljucén there is located one of the oldest National Monuments in Spain, the Dolmen of Lácara. Through a narrow corridor we gain access to the death chamber. The high slabs help us to imagine the greatness of the construction.

Dolmen of Lacara

We left the dolmen away and head towards La Serena. Our first break here is in Campanario where a agreat amount of bronze age defensive objects were found. Besides the so called Edificio de La Mata is also there. It was orinally built for funeral rites, however, when the Romans came it was adapted for the needs of the Roman colony.

At the South of Campanario it is located the town of Zalamea de la Serena, Cancho roano is a Tartessian site. The construction stands out due to the big magnitude of the construction.Moreover, a great amount of daily objects have been found,they help us to imagine their way of life.

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