Eastern Biniac naveta facts for kids
The Eastern Biniac is a very old burial site on the island of Menorca. It is a special type of tomb called a naveta, which looks a bit like an upside-down boat. Many years ago, during the Bronze Age, groups of people were buried together inside this naveta. You can find it near the main road (Me-1) if you are visiting Menorca. It is right at the entrance of a property called "Lloc de Menorca."
The Eastern Biniac naveta has a round shape. Its outer wall slopes inwards from the bottom to the top. This wall was built using large, rough stones placed horizontally. This building method is called cyclopean masonry. You can see this type of building in many other ancient structures on Menorca.
The entrance to the naveta is on its southern side. At some point in time, a wall was built next to the naveta's southern side. This wall partly covers the entrance.
A long, narrow hallway leads into an oval-shaped room. The walls of this room are not perfectly smooth. The stones were placed so they curved inwards. The roof of the room is made from large, flat stone slabs.
The Eastern Biniac naveta is quite large. Its outside length is about 11.10 meters (36.4 feet). Its outside width is about 10.70 meters (35.1 feet). The inside burial chamber is smaller. It is about 3.90 meters (12.8 feet) long and 2.30 meters (7.5 feet) wide.
How Old is It?
Archaeologists believe this naveta was built between 1500 and 1000 BC. This time period is known as the Bronze Age. Some experts think this type of naveta, called an "intermediate naveta," is a step between older stone tombs and newer, longer navetas.
In the 1960s, an archaeologist named María Luisa Serra Belabre did a small dig on the top part of the naveta. No ancient objects were found inside the main room. This is because the naveta was used to shelter farm animals for many years. All the old dirt and objects inside were removed.
However, we know from other navetas that these buildings were used as tombs. Families or small communities would bury their dead here. They often placed objects, called grave goods, with the bodies. These objects were usually related to their beliefs about what happened after death.
See also
In Spanish: Naveta de Biniac Oriental para niños
