Science

Spain's massive stone tombs reveal collective burials continued well into Bronze Age

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Briefings

A 2026 study by Eduardo Vijande-Vila and colleagues at the University of Cádiz, Spain, published in PLOS One, indicates that Iberian populations continued constructing and using large-scale necropolises well into the Bronze Age. The research suggests these massive stone tombs were not abandoned but rather utilized for collective burials, challenging previous assumptions about the end of such practices. The study provides new insights into the long-term cultural practices of the region, though specific dates and the exact nature of the tombs remain to be fully understood.

Key points

• The study by Eduardo Vijande-Vila and colleagues at the University of Cádiz, Spain, published in PLOS One in 2026, indicates that Iberian populations continued constructing and using large-scale necropolises well into the Bronze Age.
• The research suggests that massive stone tombs were utilized for collective burials rather than abandoned, indicating a cultural practice that persisted beyond earlier historical periods.

Context

This research challenges the assumption that large-scale stone tombs were abandoned by the Bronze Age. The study by Vijande-Vila and colleagues at the University of Cádiz, Spain, published in PLOS One in 2026, indicates that Iberian populations continued constructing and using large-scale necropolises well into the Bronze Age. The research suggests these massive stone tombs were not abandoned but rather utilized for collective burials, challenging previous assumptions about the end of such practices.

Limitations

The study provides new insights into long-term cultural practices but lacks specific dates and the exact nature of the tombs. Evidence is limited to the study's findings, and the study is still under review, so the results may change with further analysis.

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