The book
Talayotic Menorca, World Heritage. An insular cyclopean odyssey, the eighth in the Sitjot collection, was presented this afternoon, March 2, at the Cercle Artístic de Ciutadella, as part of the programme to celebrate the Day of the Balearic Islands. It was attended by the authors, Joaquim Pons Machado and Cipriano Marín (telematically); the conseller of Cultural Affairs, Joan Pons Torres, and the director of the Talayotic Menorca Agency, Antoni Ferrer Rotger.
This new edition of Sitjot is a
journey through the long process of Talayotic Menorca's candidacy, which culminated successfully on September 18 2023 with its inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It contains a large number of maps and images in colour that help the reader to understand the key aspects of Talayotic Menorca.
"The Consell Insular de Menorca is very pleased to present the first book following the proclamation of Talayotic Menorca as a World Heritage Site, an international recognition of the archaeological heritage that our ancestors have preserved from generation to generation," said the conseller of Cultural Affairs.
Pons Torres took the opportunity to announce one of the most important projects of the Talayotic Menorca Agency in the short term: the
creation of the Talayotic Menorca Interpretation Centre at the Consell Insular headquarters in Ciutadella, which is expected to become a reality in 2025. This centre, already contemplated in the Management Plan, will be a reference point with all the information on the sites of Talayotic Menorca, and will be located next to the Agency's offices.
Both authors have been closely linked to the candidacy: Joaquim Pons Machado as technical director of the Talayotic Menorca dossier and archaeologist of the Consell Insular for almost four years, and Cipriano Marín as coordinator of the candidacy and of the dossier that was presented to UNESCO.
During their speech, the authors highlighted the synthesis work carried out in the writing of this book, as it should be taken into account that the nomination dossier is 630 pages long and Sitjot's book is only 78. The aim was to explain clearly and concisely in a small format book the main features of the dossier: the outstanding universal value, the components of the serial property and the main attributes and values that have led Menorca to be included on the World Heritage List.
The authors also wanted to include in their publication a first chapter to introduce people to UNESCO and the World Heritage Convention. To close the book, they have looked to the future after the inscription, with the role to be assumed by the Talayotic Menorca Agency and with the Management Plan as the main working document.
For his part, the director of the Talayotic Menorca Agency emphasised that the book was written by the coordinator of the dossier and by one of the technicians who were involved in the technical management, making them two of the people who know the subject best.
The Sitjot collection
Sitjot aims to disseminate the wealth of Menorca's historical and archaeological heritage among a non-specialist public. With a markedly informative character, but always respecting scientific rigour, these monographs incorporate illustrations and other visual resources to make the information more comprehensible. Talayotic Menorca, World Heritage. An island cyclopean odyssey is
also available in Spanish and English, like the rest of the collection.
The intention is that these monographs may be of interest not only to Menorcans, but also to tourists who come to the island, especially those who visit the museums. This is why the collection is available at the Museu de Menorca and Can Saura.
The other seven titles in the collection
The Sitjot collection started in 2018 with Torre d'en Galmés. Territorial control of prehistoric Menorca, an update of the book with the same title published by the Consell Insular de Menorca in 2007. This new edition, also edited by archaeologists Carmen Lara, Joaquim Pons, Gustau Juan and Antoni Ferrer, presents the findings of the excavations carried out up to 2018 in Torre d'en Galmés.
In Es Tudons naveta. Monuments and funeral rites during the final bronze age in Menorca, the author Simón Gornés compiles the current understanding about this type of buildings, exclusive to Menorca. Another of Sitjot's volumes is also dedicated to funeral rituals, but with a transversal vision that embraces the Prehistory and history of the island. This book, which is entitled May the earth rest lightly on you. A story of death in Menorca, is based on the exhibition that can currently be seen in Can Saura (Ciutadella). The authors are Elena Sintes and María José León.
The title Promontories and fortifications. Coastal settlements of the bronze age in Mallorca and Menorca is also related to an exhibition. In the book, the new data collected in the excavations of Cala Morell (Ciutadella) and sa Ferradura (Manacor, Mallorca) settlements are disclosed. Montserrat Anglada, María José León, Damià Ramis and Magdalena Salas coordinated the edition.
Sitjot's fifth book was Torralba d'en Salort. Taula enclousures, the iron age sanctuaries of Menorca, presented in 2020, where readers can discover the world of these unique monuments that can only be found in Menorca. Archaeologists Irene Riudavets and Cristina Bravo take a look at the different archaeological interventions in taula enclosures, their architectural characteristics and the associated religious cults and rituals. Finally, the authors focus on Torralba d'en Salort, with a detailed description of its main points of interest and the history of research on the settlement.
Discover Talayotic Menorca with Laia and Tau, the sixth in the Sitjot collection and the first one aimed at children, is intended to be a first contact with the Talayotic culture for the youngest readers. It is a journey through Menorca's prehistory accompanied by Laia and Tau, from the first settlers to the conquest of the island by the Roman army.
The book Torre d'en Galmés: How did they control the territory in prehistoric Menorca, adapted for easy reading, was the seventh in the collection, following the line of Menorca Talayotic as a transversal and inclusive project.
Here you can see the complete collection.