naveta

Naveta is a type of megalithic funerary monument found in the Balearic Islands, particularly in Menorca and Mallorca. The term derives from the Catalan word naveta, meaning “little boat,” a reference to the boat-shaped exterior profile of many examples. Navetas date to the late Bronze Age and were used as collective tombs for communities, making them among the oldest monumental structures in the region.

Architecturally, navetas vary in size but share a common purpose: to house a burial chamber formed by rough, well-fitted stones. Many are built with a distinct boat-like silhouette and feature a narrow entrance that opens into a central chamber, sometimes with subsidiary burial shelves or niches. The roofing is often corbelled or vaulted, and the exterior façade presents a rounded, hull-like shape. The construction emphasizes durability and the idea of a lasting family or communal legacy.

Functionally, navetas served as collective tombs where multiple individuals were interred over time. Remains may have been placed with grave goods such as pottery, tools, or ornaments. The structures were sometimes reused across generations and could bear evidence of later re-occupation or ritual activity.

Distribution and archaeology, Navetas are most concentrated in Menorca, with the best-known example being Naveta des Tudons (Es Tudons), dating roughly to 1200–900 BCE. Mallorca contains several related monuments as well. Systematic excavations in the 19th and 20th centuries contributed to understanding their chronology and construction methods, though many details remain subject to interpretation.

Preservation: Many navetas have suffered damage from erosion, agriculture, and development. Several sites are protected as archaeological monuments and continue to be studied within Balearic prehistory.