The archaeological work begins on May 15 for the restoration and consolidation of talayot 2 and cave 4 at the Montefí Talayotic site in Ciutadella. The project is financed with European Funds drawn from the Next Generation EU Recovery and Resilience mechanism, and is intended to improve visitor conditions at the site. The company Catarqueòlegs, SL, has the task of conducting the excavations. The state of conservation reveals deficient structural stability which hampers visits to the site, in particular talayot 2. The aim of this intervention is to resolve these issues and so improve the visitor experience.
In 2015 the Department of Cultural Affairs and Heritage of the Consell Insular de Menorca called for a series of technical proposals to draw up the Consolidation Project for talayot T2 and cave C4 at Montefí. The E. ARQ Ingeniería-Arquitectura SLP practice was ultimately commissioned to author these projects. Subsequently, in October 2017, a preliminary project was drawn up to apply for grants from the Spanish state to perform the work.
The Montefí archaeological site is currently owned by the Consell Insular de Menorca. The land acquired by the public authority covers an area of 43,187 m2, including the part which is home to most of the remaining structures at the archaeological site.
Montefí settlement
Montefí is a Talayotic settlement covering a large area, currently housing numerous monumental remains visible on the ground, above all the three talayots. The works are intended to conserve the settlement, while also raising the profile of the site and making it accessible to the public, and will involve:
- Consolidation of the archaeological remains to achieve their conservation.
- Adaptation of the building to improve visits and interpretation.
- Activation of the site within the historical heritage network of Menorca open to visitors.
- More in-depth knowledge gathered through the archaeological intervention.
Characteristics of the intervention
Since taking any action will alter the current configuration of the monument, and
consolidation of the structure of talayot 2 requires a part to be dismantled, a prior excavation will be conducted of the upper platform of the building to allow a study of the construction system used, and if necessary, to adapt the proposed intervention techniques in line with the new data obtained.
Work will likewise be performed on the
immediate vicinity of talayot 2 and cave 4, since it may prove possible to recover displaced architectural elements of the building. Taking into account both talayot 2 and cave 4, the intervention zone will be large enough to include the area comprising the cave, with the aim of uncovering its original entrance. Meanwhile, the excavation will allow historical data to be scientifically gathered, providing the basis to create resources to explain the site to visitors (information panels, etc.) with academic rigour.
In the case of cave 4, excavation may not be needed, strictly speaking, since we have records that it was used as a storage tank in recent times, and would therefore not contain any archaeological levels. If this reuse is confirmed, an archaeological inspection will be conducted to evaluate the type of intervention, by agreement at all times with the Heritage Service of the Consell Insular de Menorca.