Na Comerma de Sa Garita

Chronology

Talaiotic III (800–450 BC)

Dimensions

270 m²

Na Comerma de Sa Garita is a unique and enigmatic structure within the archaeological landscape of Minorca and the Balearic Islands. Situated near the Talaiotic settlement of Torre d'en Galmés and adjacent to the megalithic tomb of Ses Roques Llises, this monument stands out due to its distinct architectural characteristics, which have yet to be fully understood due to the lack of formal archaeological excavations.

The structure consists of a large enclosure with an apsidal shape, bounded by a cyclopean wall and featuring a porticoed section to the north and a courtyard to the south. The porticoed section is defined by a double-faced wall that reaches up to two meters in height on the exterior. Its interior is structured with a series of architraved columns and pilasters forming a grid-like arrangement—five rows aligned north-south and three aligned east-west. Currently, ten columns and six large slabs remain in place, though many original elements lie scattered on the ground, making near-complete reconstruction feasible.

One of the most intriguing elements of the monument is a small taula-like structure, partially buried beneath rocks, protruding about 1.3 meters from the ground in the northwest corner of the porticoed area. The courtyard, covering approximately 270 m², extends southward from the porticoed area, suggesting a significant open space that was possibly once enclosed or left exposed to the sky.

The architectural style suggests a dating to the final Talaiotic period, but without excavations, it is difficult to confirm its exact chronology or original function. Various hypotheses have been proposed, including religious, storage, or even sheltering purposes, but the absence of contextual material evidence limits definitive conclusions.

The name of the site itself is also of interest. Comerma is thought to derive from the words coma (portion of land) and herma (uncultivated place), a fitting description given the rocky, barren surroundings. Garita, on the other hand, could suggest a sheltering space for animals, hinting at a possible secondary use of the structure at some point in time.

Despite its deteriorated state, with fallen remnants and vegetation covering parts of the site, Na Comerma de Sa Garita remains a compelling and little-understood monument. Its excavation represents one of the great challenges in Minorcan archaeology, holding the potential to reveal valuable insights into the Talaiotic culture and its architectural traditions.