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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Dolmen dit Cova de l'Alarb is a megalithic building located in the commune of Argelès-sur-Mer, in the Pyrénées-Orientales. Its Catalan name, meaning the cave of the Arab, evokes the Moorish invasions of the eighth century, although its construction dates back to the Neolithic. It was mentioned for the first time by historian Pierre Vidal, who described its structure: a rectangular chamber bounded by slabs of local pegmatite, including a 2 meters long cover table, adorned with a natural basin with polished spillway. The access corridor, now partially disappeared, led to this room open to the southeast.

Ranked a Historical Monument by order of November 3, 1958, the dolmen is characterized by a circular tumulus and remarkable architectural elements, such as the bedside slab (1.24 m wide) and lateral orthostats. According to local legends, the site reportedly housed an old man making oracles, or was built by a cyclope. These folk stories reflect the symbolic importance of the monument in Catalan culture, mixing history and myths.

The dolmen structure reveals sophisticated neolithic construction techniques, with slabs assembled without mortar. The basin on the cover table suggests a ritual or practical use related to water, a rare and sacred element in prehistoric societies. The excavations and studies, especially those of Pierre Vidal in 1922, have made it possible to document this heritage, now protected for its archaeological and historical value.

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