There’s a magical isle of ancient fossil filled limestone, scattered liberally with ancient hand carved monuments of stone. It sits just east of mainland Spain washed by the turquoise blue of the Mediterranean waves and gentle tides. Baked beneath 4,000 years of hot Spanish sun, these rocks evoke a sense of the ancient people of this isle, who washed, worshiped and baked bread among these stones. At this site, ‘Torralba D’en Salord’ which translates roughly as the white stones of Salord, a bronze bull and statues of the Punic goddess Tanit were discovered still resting beside a stone altar as they might have done for thousands of years.
Here among golden grains, whispering into the sun filled breeze, this ancient Phonecian goddess was worshiped by this famous and far reaching race of sea faring merchants. Phonecian merchant ships plied their goods all across the Mediterranean Sea for thousands of years before Christ was born, even establishing routes to Britain, up the east coast of Ireland and the west coast of Britain. Beautiful jewellery, wine and glass from the warm shores of the Mediterranean are still being discovered scattered up long forgotten rich trading settlements of western Scotland. Perhaps these goods left from these very shores, after the merchant had invoked the blessing of this goddess, among these white stones. Tanit was a moon goddess of grain and fertility, a virginal mother, a heavenly goddess of war and consort of Baal. Linked with Ishtar, she originated just across the waves in Carthage, North Africa, in modern day Tunisia.
But the people who raised these hand shaped rocks were here before the name Tanit was ever whispered. Found only on Minorca, these evocative T shaped monuments are found all across the heart of the isle. They are enclosed within limestone walls to form a shrine called a Taula, which is unique to this island. As new waves of people washed through they brought their gods and added them to the already ancient holy sites. They built their homes into a village which surround the holy ground, and kept goats and sheep and threshed grains of wheat and barley. It’s not hard to imagine them going about their daily lives as you walk through the ruins they left behind.
There are also hand chiseled burial caves within the village, with some houses being built over old ancestral caves. These were communal tombs where burial rites were carried out, and bodies were laid out to decompose, before the dried bones were added to those who came before them. They feel like comfortable intimate spaces where the ancestors were loved and honoured.
The layers of history here are tangible, emerging in layers beneath your feet as you wander among the stones and bones of people whose lives were over many millennia ago, and yet who have influenced the far away, less sun washed isle of Britain. They roamed far across the ocean waves to trade, and came back here to these villages to live and love their families in ways we might find surprisingly familiar. The breeze stirs the golden sea of oats and butterflies dance upwards into the blue cloud filled sky. Sights as old as time itself.
Find these atmospheric ruins near Alaior, sign posted off the Me-1, main road between Mahon and Ciutadella, on the isle of Minorca. North of the popular beach of Son Bou, there is a 4 euro fee.
breathofgreenair 
This is a truly picturesque and awe-inspiring place! I would love to go there and hike. Would you recommend the place for hiking?
Yes, it’s a beautiful island for walking, with lots of unspoilt nature. There are lots of horse trails used by the locals which are good for walking. Best to avoid the highest summer temps for walking by visiting in May/June or September/Oct for walking. The island is littered with very ancient sites and stunning beaches in rocky coves.
Looks so fun! thanks for adding another great place to visit on my bucket list.
WOW! Loved the photos! Just followed you! I blog every day at https://thelostmango.wordpress.com XOXO
Popping in to check all’s well with you? Celebrating Summer, I hope 🙂 🙂
How fascinating with history behind. Love the photos of the stones and cave your captured. 🙂
what a time-capsule…♥
It’s an amazing island, with so many of these ancient spots….abandoned and left to bake in the sun, until fairly recently. I think because the island is fairly undeveloped there’s less pressure on land, so these old stones are left in peace for us to dream among😊
Enchanting – and perhaps enchanted! Lovely shots.
Thanks Fi, the place has a lovely feel
Fascinating how much the world has changed, yet stayed the same. Most travel is still for trade of some sort. 🙂
So many things are indeed the same….and people haven’t changed all that much either over a few thousand years! It’s amazing to think of isn’t it Brenda😊
It is amazing. We still have the same needs, though. As long as our needs don’t change in thousands of years, maybe our behavior won’t either.
It looks like such an interesting place .. Wonderful images, steeped in history. Love your story ..
Thanks Julie, so many layers of history all around the Med…I live it too 🙂
Amazing how something old and ruined still has a charming beauty that we can all marvel today.
Nice place.
I do love an old ruin😊
Such phenomenal pictures and history. I almost feel as if I can fall back in time walking through the stones with you. Did you intentionally decide to vacation in a historic area? I so LOVE the wealth of history you have in Europe and the U.K. Thanks for sharing!
I’m delighted hear that Gwynn, as it’s exactly how I felt😊
It’s a return trip to a much loved island……of all the Balearics it’s the peaceful one, rich in history, lush and green with natural unspoilt beauty….and some delicious cheese and beef. The British once ruled here and they brought Friesian cows and built gin distilleries!!
Thanks for taking me to a place I will never know. Really like the images of, and from within, the burial caves. I hope you have been well. D
I’ve not been too ad David…..it’s everyone else around me who seems to be having a hard time right now. Sometimes life does that…but the warmth of the sun and the natural beauty of the island is working its magic on me😊
I like a good dose of the Goddess, Tanit, Ishtar, Asase, Durga, Artemis, they’re all the same aren’t they? You already know I love this post!
Thought you might Gilly. It’s a lovely evocative site……and quiet….we almost had the place to ourselves apart from one other couple😊
It’s a beautiful island, from what I’ve seen in photos, Seonaid. 🙂 Still there, or home again?
Still being baked and pickled with wine😆
Shame! 🙂 🙂 🙂
I know….it’s a tough job….but someone has to 😉
Most interesting place, Sseonaid…I love layers of history
Mmm….me too Sue😊
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Those burial caves are fascinating; well, the history is fascinating. Thanks for the info to go along with your excellent shots.
Love your magical tale, Seonaid. This place looks really fascinating to visit. So much history and mystery combined together. The photo of the steps leading down, really beckons. 🙂
It was hard to resist, and so down we climbed with our iPhone torch to light the way Sylvia😊
Of course you did. I would expect nothing less. 🙂
Such intresting information and such beautiful photo’s Loved the one with the steps down to the burial caves.
Thanks Sue, I do love a dose of history, and this is a fascinating island. We had to use the light on the mobile phone to light our way into the caves…all very exciting!
I love exploring and have been down a few caves myself over the years 🙂 Have a wonderful day x
We’re off to do a spot more exploring😊
Wonderful 🙂
such a contrast to your usual lovely landscapes – testing your skills with that very different light and proves your mettle with camera p.s. personally fascinating too as was investigating the phoenecians at the British Museum and reading further – would love to tread in their footsteps
The light is definitely a bit of a challenge Laura….but I’m practising😊 It’s a fascinating island, and there are a few sites like this
The Phoenicians fascinate me too….and they fairly got around😊