THE LÁCARA DOLMEN

Just a short journey from Finca al-manzil in the direction of Merida is the dolmen of Lácara, one of the most complete Neolithic dolmens in Europe.

It dates from 3000 -4000 years B.C. between the Neolithic and Chalcolithic periods. There is a charming walk through the typical dehesa strewn with huge granite boulders, the landscape has changed very little over the millenniums. Agriculture was already well organized during the Neolithic period; the primal forest had been cut down leaving only the holm oaks scattered across vast areas of pasture for cattle and sheep, pigs fattened on the holm oak acorns. The land was used in a sustainable manner, prunings from the holm oaks used for making charcoal; trees, pasture and animals working in a cycle which is still in action today over vast areas of Extremadura.  The organization of efficient farming allowed a surplus with which to sustain a larger population, more energy, more manpower to construct the dolmens so typical of this period; territorial status symbols of power and wealth, places dedicated to sacred rites.

It took enormous effort and much time to construct a dolmen the size of Lácara. The natural granite boulders had to be split through their natural fissures with wooden wedges and stone maces, then dragged with ropes on huge sledges with wooden rollers to the place of construction, probably 50 -100 people needed to move each stone.  The larger stone slabs were placed upright to form the walls of the funeral chamber which is a rough octagonal of about 5 metres diameter. Other slabs used horizontally for the roof of chamber and 9 metre corridor. The whole construction covers an area of 28 metres x 35 metres including the outer ring of upright stones. When it was finished it was covered in layers of pebbles from the nearby stream and earth to create a huge artificial mound of 7 metres, hiding the inner construction, just the entrance to the vestibule left open.

It was a communal burial chamber used over successive generations for at least 1000 years. The dead were entombed in a foetal position surrounded by some personal possessions such as necklaces, axes, knives and amulets for protection on the journey to the next life.

This amazing dolmen has survived almost intact despite the ravages of time. It is exposed to the light of day now, we can see the bare bones of the construction, walking along the 9 metres of low, covered corridor gives just a little frisson, just an echo of what the dolmen was like when it was buried 7 metres under the ground, just flickering fire to light the way into the burial chamber, a cold dark place full of cadavers.