The enigma of Es Cap de Barbaria

The arid landscape of Cap de Barbaria, in Formentera, hides one of the most important prehistoric sites in the Balearic Islands. With a total of 33 sites, this area offers a window into the earliest human settlements on the island, although the remains are badly eroded by the passage of time and human intervention.

Of these sites, three have been excavated and can be visited. Barbaria II, the most complex one, has nine spaces of varying floor plans, including rooms that appear to have served as dwellings, storerooms and stables. The findings include fragments of pottery and copper, suggesting the practice of metallurgy and the import of this material.

In the case of Barbaria III, although badly damaged, it is possible to identify the walls of several constructions, with a quadrangular floor plan that may have been used for agricultural and livestock activities.

Finally, Barbaria I has a circular structure that is 13 metres in diameter, with two compartments inside. Its exact function remains a mystery, as it does not appear to have been used as a dwelling.

The high concentration of sites in Es Cap de Barbaria reveals that this area was the main population centre for the first settlers of Formentera. Despite its state of preservation, the site continues to fascinate visitors with its enigmatic atmosphere and archaeological importance.