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Looking from the rear gives an indication of the scale of this tomb

Both the joys of gps and the fact it removes all the fun of getting lost. Notice earlier travellers had difficulty finding this one despite being close to airport

Why is this tomb called L’Elefante?

Was wondering if I could move in, drape a bit of tarp over the front and there you go

Using the natural rock bed as a base

Looking across the dolmen from the rear

Very large dolmen, wonderful situation, short walk out of village

Spent a lot longer here than expected, quite a site and a jigsaw puzzle of rocks to be pieced together, hardship I know!

Do you think it was really built this way or something went wrong in its reconstruction? To be fair a number of monuments on the island do use the natural rock features in construction so possible

At first I thought it was a tortoise trying to make its escape

The smallest of of 4 dolmens in the area making for an interesting walk

Sitting pretty in its own little space this dolmen even commands its own notice board

Looking at the site from the West

And the female gods this side (concrete reproduction (not literally))

Dedicated to the male gods on this side

Easy to see the many phases of construction and alteration, believed to have been in use from 4500BC onwards. The building corners are aligned with the compass North South, East West

Claimed to be the temples sacrificial alter and not a collapsed dolmen

Re discovered around 65 years ago, very powerful site, felt the hairs on my neck and back of my hand bristle as I walked up to the ramp

Well it’s up there approx. upper centre. Mile or more walk each way on easy going path made it a pleasant place to visit. Lots of opportunities for scrambling on the rocks once there and of course stunning views in all directions

A zoom in with the camera reveals the site in a little more detail, interesting that they should build the temple high up into the hillside, must have wanted to be closer to their ‘gods’ or a defensive position

Not a lot to see inside. however, a lovely tree. Really think someone should write a book about the relationship between megalithic sites and their trees, sadly I’m usually stuck after two sentences.

Entrance to the Temple still standing, guess Samson never visited these parts

Looking from behind the monument

Site in excellent condition and easy to imagine it when covered and in full ceremonial use

Bottom left shows natural rock being used in construction, a common feature in the North of the Isalnd

Although not obvious from this photo the site consists of three towers, meeting (spiritual?) rooms, living accommodation and a well where numerous artefacts were recovered. Reconstructed in 2007

Looking down the burial passage

A view from the rear

The ‘Soul Hole’ allowing any wayward spirits to escape (or so they say)

Small, complicated site, however, many recognisable features

In common with a number of sites on the island they are pay per view and well maintained if not a little sanitised on occasions.

Megalithic site including various cairns and two stone circles

Another large site on Oland, as usual, spread out alongside the roadside

The graves are spread across a small hill all looking out to sea

Said to be the burial place of Kings