Dolmen of Lacara

The dolmen was built during the Chalcolitic period. This great tomb is a referent in prehistoric constructions in Spain.

Entrance to corridor

Few kilometres away from Mérida, on the road to Aljucén, it is located the Lácara's Dolmen.

To reach the area where the dolmen is we have to walk 10 kms from Aljucen (or from La Nava, too). An access sign marks the entrance and there are enough space to park the car next to the entrance fence. Through a little door on the left we get the dolmen on foot.

Entrance to the dolmen's enclosure

Once we are inside the enclosure we have to follow the fence. And 100 metres away we turn to the left, and parallel to the road we will go on for 200-300 metres roughly, until we find a small ruined house.

Following the fence we meet the dolmen, we should pay attention to the place, the dolmen is in an almost unnoticed elevation, some stones merged from the land forming what was a construction, that is a tip to find the dolmen. To reach the entrance we just have to surround the border.

A large corridor leads to the death hall.

The corridor, at the back the death hall.

Once we are at the hall we realize how wonderful is this place. Large stones rose 5 metres high to place the dome, nowadays, just one of them is still up, the rest are broken, however, we can see how precisely they were placed and how magnificient this contruction was.

Death Hall.

A great slab covered the dome, nowadays there are no remainings of it.

The whole construction was covered with stones and sand to form a large burial mound.

In order to strengthen and support the mound large stones are placed on the bottom, as if they were buttress, around a big exterior ring. These large stones are noticeable around the Dolmen of Lácara.

The dolmens were sacred cosntructions whose use was to bury the people who belonged to the comunity. The construction of such kind of 'building' was difficult and a great amount of people was required.

The Lácara's Dolmen is a magnificient cosntruction, however, this quality is only appreciated once you are there.

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