The Dolmen of Guadalperal, also known as the Treasure of Guadalperal and as the Spanish Stonehenge for its resemblance to the English Stonehenge, is a megalithic monument that was constructed more than 7,000 years ago in Peraleda de la Mata, a town in the region of Campo Arañuelo in eastern Extremadura, Spain. Spanish Stonehenge consists of about 150 granite stones, called orthostats, some of which are over two meters tall. Archaeologists believe it served as a burial site or a ceremonial structure for the ancient people who inhabited the region.
Spanish Stonehenge consists of 150 standing granite stones, some more than six feet tall, which was constructed more than 7,000 years ago – at least 2,000 years before Stonehenge
One of the distinctive features of the Dolmen of Guadalperal is its location. Unlike Stonehenge, which is situated on a vast plain, this Spanish site is nestled on the banks of a reservoir. The construction of the Valdecañas reservoir in the 1960s led to the submersion of the dolmen underwater for several decades. However, during periods of drought when water levels recede, the ancient site becomes visible once again, offering glimpses into the past. The structure was seen fully for the first time in 50 years in July 2019, when a NASA satellite photograph during a drought revealed its 150 stones.
Spanish Stonehenge was seen fully for the first time in 50 years in July 2019, when a NASA satellite photograph during a drought revealed its 150 stones
Dolmen of Guadalperal may have been built in alignment with the summer solstice, as a solar temple. Some of its stones feature carvings, including a menhir with a curved line that could represent a snake or a map of the nearby Tagus River
Archaeologists believe that Dolmen of Guadalperal served as a burial site or a ceremonial structure for the ancient people who inhabited the region
