“Spanish Stonehenge”: Ancient Site Resurfaces With a Mysterious Purpose That Has Archaeologists Excited

Lakes and rivers throughout Europe have started to dry up as a result of a historic heatwave and drought, which has allowed for the full resurfacing of a mysterious ancient site in Spain that dates back a millennium called “Spanish Stonehenge.”

On August 13, photographs taken by Manu Fernández, a photographer for the Associated Press, showed that a “megalithic monument” had emerged from the dry lake bed of the Valdecaas reservoir in western Spain.

According to Reuters, the ancient “Spanish Stonehenge” site is formally known as the Dolmen of Guadalperal.

Historian Primitiva Bueno Ramirez has suggested that the circular monument was probably enclosed when it was first built some 7,000 years ago.

It consisted of a massive domed boulder that was supported by hundreds of vertically stacked boulders that are known as menhir. The rock formation produced a confined passageway that served as the entrance and led to a main room.

According to Ramirez, the walls appeared to be lined with carvings and ornaments, which would have been illuminated by people walking past with torches.

Archaeologists are still unsure what the megalithic monument was made for.

However, some have suggested it might’ve been a ritual site, a tomb or even a trading post, according to the BBC.

The ancient site initially reappeared in 2019, amid yet another drought, before going back under the water, reported El Español at the time. According to Reuters, the capacity of the reservoir has decreased to 28% as of today.

Photos taken by Fernández show that the ancient monolithic monument can be seen once again, perhaps better than ever before.

It is comprised of approximately one hundred boulders that have a dusty, brown appearance and are arranged in concentric circles on the parched ground.

The only engravings that remain are a human-like figure and something that looks like a slithering serpent.