Lapa de Gargantáns facts for kids
The Lapa de Gargantáns is a very old stone monument called a menhir. It is found in Moraña, a town in Galicia, Spain. This huge stone was made between 3,000 and 2,000 years BC, which means it is over 4,000 years old! People found it in 1958.
What is the Lapa de Gargantáns?
A menhir is a large, upright stone that people from ancient times placed in the ground. These stones are often found alone or in groups. They are a type of megalithic monument, which means "large stone" in Greek. The Lapa de Gargantáns is one such impressive stone.
What Does It Look Like?
This ancient stone stands about 1.92 meters (about 6 feet 3 inches) tall. It is about 50 centimeters (about 20 inches) wide. The bottom part of the stone was cut, so it was probably even taller when it was first put there. On its surface, you can see special drawings called petroglyphs. These are designs carved into the rock by people long ago.
What Was It Used For?
In the Galician language, the word lapa can mean a stone that marks a burial place. However, nobody knows for sure what the Lapa de Gargantáns was truly used for. Some experts think it might have been a sign for burials, a religious symbol, a way to remember something important, or even a marker for the borders between different ancient tribes. It's a mystery that makes this stone even more interesting!
