Prehistoric site of Els Closos de Can Gaià

The Naviforme Bronze Age site of Els Closos de Can Gaià is located in the southeast of the island of Mallorca, in the port of Portocolom. Archaeological research at the site began in the 1960s and has continued through systematic excavations since the 1990s, focusing on the development and function of its prehistoric buildings. These studies have shown that the settlement was occupied in several phases and adapted over time to changing social and economic conditions.

Excavations revealed that the characteristic stone structures were arranged around central communal areas and were used for storage, craft production, and possibly ritual activities. While the surface remains are well documented, much of the subsurface archaeological context has remained unexplored.

To address this gap, geophysical methods such as magnetic prospection (carried out by Kiel university between 2009 and 2011) and ground-penetrating radar are now being used to detect buried structures, ditches, pathways, and possible burial areas. These investigations provide new insights into the organisation and land use of the settlement beyond what is visible above ground.