On July 9, the City Museum will host the event 'The Dolmens of Antequera: Current Scientific Research', which will review the last fifteen years of studies on the megalithic complex, declared World Heritage by UNESCO in 2016.
Antequera is preparing to celebrate a decade of its most treasured international recognition. On Thursday, July 9, the City Museum will host the scientific day “The Dolmens of Antequera: Current Scientific Research”, an event that will bring together top experts to analyse advances in the understanding of these megalithic monuments. The event will begin at 9:30 AM and is part of the commemorative programme for the tenth anniversary of the declaration of the Dolmens of Antequera as World Heritage by UNESCO.
Fifteen Years of Research on the Dolmens of Antequera
The day will be led by Leonardo García Sanjuán, a professor at the University of Seville and one of the leading specialists in Andalusian megalithism. Alongside him, speakers such as José Antonio Lozano Rodríguez, Judit Praena García, José Ruiz Flores, Luis Efrén Fernández Rodríguez, Marisa Cisneros García, and Raquel Montero Artús will participate. They will address key issues such as the construction of the Dolmen of Menga, its presence in the medieval period, archaeological surveys at the Peña de los Enamorados, the tomb of Piedras Blancas, the settlements of Arroyo Saladillo and Huerta del Ciprés, or the mobility of populations in the 4th and 3rd millennia BCE in the Vega de Antequera.
The councillor for Historical Heritage, José Medina, highlighted that this day will provide “the last 15 years of scientific research” conducted around the Dolmens and their landscape. Medina emphasized that this work has helped to reinforce Antequera's uniqueness as a city “world-renowned and uniquely peculiar”. Meanwhile, the deputy mayor for World Heritage, Ana Cebrián, added that this activity will be a prelude to the commemoration of the ten years of World Heritage.
A Legacy that Transcends Time
For the residents of Antequera and the surrounding area, this day represents a unique opportunity to learn firsthand the secrets that the Dolmens still hold. The complex, consisting of the dolmens of Menga, Viera, and El Romeral, is one of the most prominent examples of European megalithic architecture. Its declaration as World Heritage in 2016 marked a turning point in the city's cultural and tourist projection. Since then, the number of visitors has continued to grow, and scientific research has intensified, allowing for the discovery of new data about the construction techniques and the lives of the communities that erected them over 5,000 years ago.
The programme for the day also includes the presentation of the results of the latest surveys at the Peña de los Enamorados, an emblematic site in the Antequera landscape that is closely related to the dolmens. Attendees will learn how interdisciplinary studies are helping to reconstruct the past of this area, combining archaeology, geology, and anthropology. Undoubtedly, an unmissable event for history and heritage enthusiasts.
The day will be held at the Museum of the City of Antequera, a space that already hosts a permanent exhibition on the Dolmens. Access will be free until capacity is reached, and it is recommended to arrive early to secure a spot. Those unable to attend in person will be able to follow the presentations via live streaming on the YouTube channel of the Antequera City Council. An opportunity to rediscover the legacy of our ancestors and celebrate, with knowledge, a decade of global recognition.
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