Trepucó. The passage with the lintel shored up

Trepucó. The passage with the lintel shored up

C.M.W.Maó01/03/10 0:00
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An archaeological dig at the Trepucó site, between Maó and Es Castell, has revealed that two of the structures to the south of the taula are houses from the Talayotic period. This latest investigation, which began in January and will continue until the end of May, has been financed by the Ministry of Culture to the tune of 86,000 euros with the aim of discovering the use of various structures around the taula, improving the state of the ruins and providing more information on the talayotic village for visitors.

The site was originally excavated in 1930-31 by a British archaeologist, Margaret Alice Murray, with funds from Cambridge University. However, the dig was never completed, probably due to a lack of funds, and several areas which were not investigated were protected with stone walls by Murray to avoid deterioration and pilfering.

The current archaeological campaign has uncovered two Talayotic houses and 'sitjots', or pits, containing pottery fragments from the second century B.C., stone instruments and animal remains. A Roman coin, an as, from 150 B.C. was also found at a depth of about half a metre. One of the side rooms in one house has yielded numerous hand grinders, whilst in another similar stone utensils were found shaped to form a hearth.

This area has masonry walls dating from a period later than the Talayotic era which will probably be removed during this dig, as will the vegetation growing in the original walls which will then be strengthened.

The excavations have also uncovered a passage surmounted by a lintel which has had to be shored up after stones from a later period were removed. The purpose of this passage has not yet been determined.