Closos de Can Gaià
“Closos de Can Gaià” is an outstanding example of a Mallorcan prehistoric archaeological site. It is a short distance from Portocolom, an old fishing port that has kept its traditional seafaring charm, and it is close to coves and natural spaces where you can enjoy the Mediterranean and just a few kilometres from Cala d’Or and your inturotel hotel.
A Mallorcan prehistoric archaeological site
Here you can find a small village that was inhabited between 2000 and 700 bc, where five prehistoric naveta (little ship) houses are currently preserved from an original total of at least 10. These houses take their name from their distinctive shape, which resembles the keel of an upside-down boat. But what were navetas? What were they used for? Navetas, or naviforms, were the houses of the communities that inhabited the Balearic Islands during the Bronze Age. They were made of dry stone, without any type of mortar or cement, and had a roof made of wood, branches and compacted clay and an elongated horseshoe floor plan.
Who lived in these houses?
This might be one of the hardest questions to answer, as these homes were built thousands of years ago and were inhabited for over seven centuries in some cases. We now believe that each of them was home to what we call a “domestic or residential group”: in other words. people who shared a common space where they did their everyday activities (sleeping, eating, working, etc.) and who were not necessarily a family in the contemporary sense of a group of relations.
What was life like in a village 3,000 years ago?
Obviously, it was different to now, but this did not necessarily mean it was worse. We have to do a process of archaeological imagination, based on the large amount of scientific data obtained over almost 100 years of archaeological research. We are in a Mallorca that had a much smaller population, was less built-up and where navetas were almost the only monuments that stood out in a landscape that combined wooded areas with open areas for growing crops and pasture for livestock closer to the villages, forming a patchwork landscape.
What can I visit at the Closos site?
The site is open all year round and entry is free. There is a self-guided itinerary through which you can discover how the prehistoric communities of Mallorca lived over 3,000 years ago. There is also a reconstruction of the prehistoric botanical landscape, which allows you to explore the environment of the past and the relations these societies established with nature. Finally, there is a children’s area with prehistoric and archaeological themes where they can have fun, and comfortable picnic tables where you can rest and eat.
Guided activities for learning about history in Mallorca
You can combine your visit to the site with a wide range of activities for everyone. Would you like to go on a guided tour led by the archaeologists who work on the site? Or would you like to learn to shoot with a sling or make a bronze axe like in prehistoric times? You can even become an archaeologist for the day by taking part in the excavations. If you are interested in any of these options, contact us in advance through our social networks (@ProjecteClosos) or at the email address clososgaia@hotmail.com
The Closos site is managed by Projecte Closos, an initiative led by Felanitx council and the Universitat de les Illes Balears (UIB), which was launched in 1996 with the aim of making archaeological heritage relevant to 21st century Mallorcan society. With the support of the public, we protect, research and publicise this site to make it a centre for local, sustainable development from the perspective of culture, the environment and people
Combine your historical visit with a pleasant bike ride
Take advantage of your visit to the site to enjoy a pleasant bike ride through the beautiful scenery on the way.
The Marimonte Mallorca team are waiting for you at inturotel resort with all of the equipment needed for your ride.
The site is 8.5 kilometres from our resort. This means that the ride to your destination takes about 45 minutes, following the road from Can Marines to Sa Vileta (the first houses of S’Horta) and then on the Cala Marçal road towards Portocolom.
On the way back, we recommend passing through “Els Horts” (the market gardens of S’Horta) with its beautiful views of the clifftop castle of Santueri. You will fall for the land and the people who live there.
Don’t miss out on the experience of visiting an open-air museum of prehistory on your next trip to Mallorca with inturotel!