Naveta

A naveta is a form of megalithic chamber tomb unique to Menorca, Spain, dating to the Bronze Age Naviform period (c. 1600-1200 BC). Named for their resemblance to an upturned boat, these structures were built using cyclopean masonry of unhewn, mortarless stones, with two vertical and two corbelled walls. The largest example, Naveta d'Es Tudons, stands 4 meters high, 14 meters long, and was used between 1050-850 BC. Navetas served as collective burial sites positioned away from settlements, with grave goods including bone buttons, pottery, and bronze weapons. Menorca's Talayotic sites, including navetas, were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2023.