Severe dehydration sometimes has unexpected side effects. Spanish archaeologists are delighted as retreating waters have revealed a prehistoric stone circle in the central province of Cáceres.
Dolmen de Guadalperal – the official name for Spanish Stonehenge – is located at the bottom of the Valdecañas Reservoir on the Tagus River in the Extremadura region.
The historic monument dates back about 7,000 years and was discovered by German archaeologist Hugo Obermayer in 1926. But in 1963, it was flooded during the construction of a dam during the reign of dictator Franco. Since then, the entire Dolmen de Guadalperal has only been visible four times.
“It’s a surprise, it’s a unique opportunity to study Spanish Stonehenge,” said archaeologist Enrique Cedillo of the University of Madrid – one of the experts racing against time to study the stone circle before it is submerged again. Stone pillars were also visible in 2019But before that that was fifty years ago.
Check out photos from 2019 below
Their presence is also good news for Ruben Argentas, who organizes boat trips. “Dolmens are emerging and tourism started immediately,” he excitedly told Reuters after a very busy day. Argentas takes tourists to the site and back with his boat so vacationers can view the monument up close.
The locals have been advocating for some time to move the historical relics to a place where they can always be seen so that they become and remain a tourist attraction. However, at the moment, it is uncertain whether this request will be complied with.
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