Archaeological surveys of the Menorcan rock-cut tombs necropolis

Esecutore: Sonia Carbonell Pastor

Direzione scientifica: Sonia Carbonell Pastor

This paper examines aspects related to the construction process of Menorcan rock-cut tombs (also called artificial caves) from the 1st millennium BCE. It gives a brief history of the research, which includes the different studies that have been carried out on carving and stonework in different areas of the island (such as prehistoric quarries and settlements). Secondly, it focuses on the study of rock-cut tombs. The documentation and recording of the tombs using both digital (photogrammetry, GIS and database management) and traditional recording techniques (drawings, registration sheets and photographs) has allowed us to make some initial hypotheses about the techniques and tools used in the construction of these spaces.  As a first approach to the study, hypotheses about the type of tools used will be presented, based on the analysis of carving marks documented in different rock-cut tombs.