A recent archaeological study has revealed details about the fascinating and complex megalithic landscape of the Gor River valley, in the Spanish province of Granada, a site that hosts one of the largest concentrations of dolmens in the Iberian Peninsula. The results combine advanced technologies such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and probabilistic analysis to uncover the role of these funerary monuments in shaping the territory during the Recent Prehistory.

The Gor River valley, extending 17 kilometers, hosts 151 preserved dolmens, although historical research suggests the original number was around 240. This decrease, attributed to agricultural mechanization and lack of legal protection, has not prevented the area from becoming a unique archaeological laboratory.

The researchers, led by teams from the universities of Granada and Complutense in Madrid, set out to understand how ancient Neolithic and Bronze Age communities used these monuments to mark and dominate their territory.

River Gor Dolmens
Location of the megalithic landscape of the Gor River in Granada, Spain. Credit: C. Cabrero González et al.

The visibility analysis, one of the most innovative aspects of the study, revealed that the dolmens were not designed to be seen from long distances, but to establish visual connections within specific areas. Through visibility modeling techniques, considering factors such as distance and the size of the mounds, the archaeologists concluded that these funerary structures formed a dense network of visual interconnection.

More than being visible landmarks for the entire region, the dolmens seem to have been internal markers meant to reinforce the territorial and social cohesion of the communities, explain the researchers. This pattern suggests that the landscape was transformed not only as an economic exploitation space but also as a symbolic setting.

The researchers identified 13 clusters or groups of mounds using statistical analysis algorithms. Each group shows unique characteristics, ranging from differences in the size of the mounds to patterns of visibility and topographic prominence.

River Gor Dolmens
Dolmen in Majadillas, Granada, Spain. Credit: C. Cabrero González et al.

In the Majadillas necropolis, for example, the mounds are notably larger and richer in funerary goods, which may reflect a more marked social hierarchy. In contrast, areas such as Llano de Olivares contain smaller mounds, strategically located on the edges of plateaus to maximize their immediate visibility.

We did not find a consistent relationship between the size of the mounds and their location in prominent areas of the landscape, the archaeologists point out. This reinforces the idea that the monumentality of these sites was not meant to highlight individual mounds but as part of a collective system.

The megaliths would be an identifying element of the same community, not identifiable by outside groups. This hypothesis aligns with the already suggested existence of different groups, probably linked to different ecological niches or riverbeds. In any case, this is more related to perceptibility (the visibility towards the megaliths) than to visibility from the megaliths, so specific research would be needed to explore this line.

River Gor Dolmens
On the top, Llano de la Ermita 5 (left) and 9 (right), in Baños de Alicún, hypogeic and presenting a large size. At the bottom, El Baúl 193 and 194, with small dimensions and presenting a square typology without a corridor. Credit: C. Cabrero González et al.

The researchers’ conclusion is that the results presented here suggest that the Gor River megalithic complex was designed to delimit the territory owned by one (or more) communities.

Despite its historical value, the megalithic landscape of the Gor River faces significant challenges. Natural erosion and human activities, especially intensive agriculture, have severely impacted the preservation of many mounds. The researchers estimate that only 60% of the original monuments have survived, and many of them show considerable damage.

The preservation of these sites is essential for understanding the social and cultural dynamics of prehistoric communities in the southeast of the Peninsula, warn the authors. They also advocate for expanding studies to neighboring areas, such as the Fardes River valley, to compare cultural and construction patterns in a broader context.

SOURCES

Carolina Cabrero González, Juan Antonio Cámara Serrano, Enrique Cerrillo Cuenca, A larger-scale study of the visual dominance at the Gor River megalithic landscape (Granada, Spain). Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, Volume 61, February 2025, 104912. doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2024.104912

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