Europe experienced one of its hottest summers in 2019. In fact, more than seven weather stations in Spain recorded their highest ever temperatures for the month of June. Such intense heat led to multiple drought-like situations in the region. And, the Tagus River in the Cáceres province gave in to a receding shoreline. Surprisingly, it revealed a historic treasure from within, as 100 circular stone monuments resembling the Stonehenge surfaced. These monuments were later identified as 4,000-Year-Old dolmens Of Guadalperal that had been resting underneath for almost 60 years. By Kumar Shree
These stones are up to 1.8m in height and are arranged in a circle of 26m diameter. Given the strategic location of this finding, the experts are assuming its use as a temple, a burial site, or a trading spot as well. They are also drawing possibilities of the site being destroyed at the hands of the Romans. Before this, the site made headlines in 1920s when an excavation was carried out here and the findings were up for an exhibition.
The site came back to news in 1960s when it was flooded by the construction of the Valdecañas Reservoir and got submerged. Through all this time, the upper part of these stones showed up many times during summers, as the water level receded due to heat. This, however, is the first time when the entire structure is visible to the eyes since the creation of the reservoir.
Being submerged under the water for so long has made the stones porous, and the dolmen fragile. While locals wished to relocate the stones to a safer destination, the government says that the process might destroy the treasure forever.
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