Cala St Vincenc Necropolis, Majorca

Our time at Cala St Vincenc was a time of happy surprises. We did not know entirely what to expect by ‘prehistoric caves’ by the road signs, so the sense of discovery was very acute.

Knowing that there was a talaiotic column just on entering the village, we approached the village carefully watching the signs and avoiding the huge groups of cyclists which render slow and attentive driving particularly necessary quite frequently on Mallorca.

The signs directed us to the right, and almost immediately we observed the megalith on the left hand corner of Carrer de Joaquim Sorolla and Carrer Dionis Bennassar. Pulling over on to the left side of the road, and crossing over, we found a very aged and weathered interpretation panel in Spanish, German and English. The text was worn and not entirely legible but the map was invaluable for working what was where.

Some 11 caves form the necropolis. Cave 1 was across the road by some distance and not accessible as far as we could work out. Cave 5 was immediately across and down from caves 6, 7 and 8. What remains of caves 2, 3, and 4 is not given.

Cave 5 is quite disappointing - its cross section revealed by standing on the bank across the road, as there is no roof, so it is an overgrown hole, essentially. For the rest of the caves a torch will be an enormous help.

Caves 6, 7, 8 form a cluster immediately next to each other and are quite delightful to explore. Number 6 is high enough to walk in to and recesses some distance, with a long thin rectangle cut into its centre.

Cave 7 is a squeeze to enter. Muddy hands, knees and shins will be gained! Two small rectangular apertures linked by a small passage give entry to a very long carved out chamber, with a long thin rectangle cut into the centre, and a circular pit about three feet deep at the furthest end. My sun hat fell into the pit, and I had to climb in to retrieve it. I didn’t particularly relish that, but it had to be done. There is a ledge on either side of the cave, and a smaller chamber on either side near the entrance, giving it something of a phallic plan layout. The ceilings were curved too - wondering if that’s related to the boat shaped graves on other built graves on the island?

Cave 8 would have had two apertures as cave 7, except the ceiling above the first aperture and linking passage has been removed. A small chamber midway along on the right and another long thin rectangular depression help define the interior.

The whole area in front of caves 6, 7 and 8 looks like it was once part of the complex, so the entrances to each may well have been longer and several feet more recessed than they are now.

Cave 9 is just a little further around on the left, an exposed passage like cave 8, a long thin rectangular inset, with four smaller chambers - one on the far left, one opposite the entrance at the far end, and two on the right hand side at the end furthest from the entrance.

Cave 10 is a more typical cave shape, a wide walk in entrance, and looked like it may have been used for habitation long after any use for burials.

Cave 11 is the furthest on the left from the megalithic monument, and is a smaller version of cave 10 - a walk entrance and not much (obvious) detail to look at.

Photos and content copyright Tim Prevett.