Archaeologists from the University of Cádiz have unveiled a remarkably well-preserved 5,000-year-old dolmen in southern Spain, shedding new light on funerary rites and long-distance exchange in the third millennium B.C., the university said Monday.
The structure, identified as Dolmen I of the La Lentejuela necropolis in Teba, Málaga province, is approximately 13 meters (43 feet) long and contains a complex internal layout with multiple ossuaries and rich grave goods, researchers from the university said. Excavations over four field seasons recovered prestige items fashioned from ivory, amber, marine shells, and finely worked flint, including arrowheads, large blades, and an exceptional halberd, which the team cites as evidence of social hierarchy and far-reaching trade networks.
“This could be one of the most monumental and complete dolmens in all of Andalucia,” said Professor Serafín Becerra, director of the Teba Museum and co-leader of the project. Co-director Eduardo Vijande of the University of Cádiz emphasized the site’s state of preservation. “The extraordinary condition of this structure will allow us to learn in great detail about the lives and beliefs of these communities.”
Researchers highlighted the value of the objects found in the Dolmen
The work is carried out under the research project “Monumentality, Time and Society: The Megalithic Phenomenon in the La Lentejuela Necropolis,” authorized by the regional Culture and Historical Heritage Department of the Junta de Andalucía. The excavation team includes specialists from the university’s Thalassa research group (HUM-1127), support from the Fundación Palarq for archaeometric analyses, and funding from the Teba town council.
University researchers highlighted the symbolic value of the objects found. “The presence of marine shells in an inland territory reflects the importance of the sea as a prestige element and confirms long-distance exchange networks,” said Professor Juan Jesús Cantillo of the University of Cádiz.
El grupo de investigación Thalassa de la UCA ha descubierto en Teba (Málaga) un dolmen de más de 5.000 años, uno de los más monumentales y mejor conservados de Andalucía.@ConoceTeba pic.twitter.com/C7rbJpqym1
— Universidad de Cádiz (@univcadiz) September 22, 2025
Archaeologists used a combination of traditional field methods and laboratory techniques, including microclimatic monitoring, microscopy, and X-ray fluorescence, to document the monument and begin analyses of materials and manufacturing techniques. The team has also produced detailed digital records of the monument to preserve its form and contents for future study.
The archaeological expeditions to the Dolmen served as a training ground for students in Spain
The project serves as a training ground for University of Cádiz students, who took part in the fieldwork alongside doctoral researchers and senior staff.
The excavation team includes scholars from the University of Almería and a roster of graduate and undergraduate students who participated in on-site conservation and recording.
Local officials and researchers said the discovery both reinforces the University of Cádiz’s role in European megalithic research and boosts efforts to conserve and promote Andalusia’s archaeological heritage. Plans call for continued laboratory study and public outreach to share the findings with local communities and international scholars.
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