Talaiot

Talaiot in Capocorb Vell, Majorca

Talaiot at Son Serra, Majorca

Main entrance to Ses Païsses talaiotic settlement, Majorca

The talaiots, or talayots, are Bronze Age megaliths on the islands of Minorca and Majorca forming part of the Talaiotic Culture or Talaiotic Period. They date back to the late second millennium and early first millennium BC. There are at least 274 of them, in, near, or related to Talaiotic settlements and Talaiotic navetes. While some certainly had a defensive purpose, the use of others is not clearly understood. Some believe them to have served the purpose of lookout or signalling towers, as on Minorca, where they form a network. These monuments pre-date the taulas, which are usually found nearby. Talayots on Minorca were much less prone to weathering as were the ones found on Majorca. Despite this, very few grave goods have been found in Minorcan talayots, leading historians to believe that the island had a poorer economy than its larger neighbor.

Similar, but not necessarily related, are the "nuraghes" of Sardinia, the "torri" of Corsica, and the "sesi" of Pantelleria.

One of the "Sesi" on Pantelleria

Talaiotic sites include:

• Capocorb Vell, 12 km south of Llucmajor, Majorca: five talaiots and ancient village
• Ses Païsses, near Artà, Majorca
• Son Olesa dolmen, Majorca, discovered in 1999
• Bocchoris, Majorca
• Talatí de Dalt, Minorca
• Trebalúger, Minorca
• Trepucó, Minorca
• Torre d'en Galmés, Minorca

See also

• Gymnesian Islands
• Naveta

External links

• Megalithic Menorca. Discovering Menorca
• Guide to Minorca: Prehistory
• Talayots.es - Comprehensive site for prehistoric monuments in Mallorca and Menorca (in Spanish)