The Menorcan delegation will offer various cultural proposals on 23 and 24 May to promote the island's prehistoric legacy
Talayotic Menorca will once again take part in the renowned historical re-enactment festival Tarraco Viva in Tarragona, to be held from 23 to 24 May. The island’s delegation will present a programme of activities designed to bring the exceptional value of its world heritage to the public.
This initiative seeks to consolidate the promotion of Menorca’s archaeological richness at leading cultural forums at a national level. Founded in 1999 as a support to Tarragona’s bid for UNESCO World Heritage status, Tarraco Viva is today a major reference in the field of historical outreach.
The Talayotic Menorca activities taking place at the festival are the following:
1. Historical re-enactment: "Balearic Smelters, the Warriors of the Balearic Islands"
A historical re-enactment of the daily life and rituals of a Talayotic family. The scenes will be narrated by the archaeologist Borja Corral from the association “Amics del Museu de Menorca”, who will offer an educational perspective on the Late Talayotic period. The slingers taking part belong to the group “Honderos de la Menor”.
Schedule: Friday 23 May at 13:00 (Catalan) and 15:30 (Spanish), and Saturday 24 May at 13:00 (Catalan), at the Auditorium of the Camp de Mart, Tarragona.
2. Craft workshop: “The Balearic Sling — Learn to Build Your Own Sling”
Lluís Pons Livermore (Honderos de la Menor), one of the world’s best slingers, will share the secrets of this ancient weapon, used by Talayotic mercenaries who served in the great armies of the Mediterranean. Participants will learn to braid their own sling and discover the traditional Menorcan throwing technique.
Schedule: Saturday 23 May at 10:30 (Catalan) and Sunday 24 May at 10:30 (Spanish), at the Auditorium of the Camp de Mart, Tarragona.
3. Launch of the new publication “An Archaeological Journey through Son Catlar: Talayotic, Punic and Roman” and Talayotic beer tasting
Presentation of this new title in the Sitjot collection, which explores the different periods of occupation at the Son Catlar site (Ciutadella). The book will be presented by one of its authors: María José León, archaeologist and technician at the Can Saura Museum of Ciutadella. This will be followed by a guided tasting of artisan Talayotic beer, led by Roger Vila, master brewer at the Grahame Pearce brewery in Sant Climent.
Schedule: Saturday 23 May at 18:00 (Catalan) at the presentation space in the Camp de Mart gardens, Tarragona.
4. Screening of the documentary “Talayotic Menorca: A Stone Legacy”
Introduction by the cultural communicator Cecília Ligero, who will contextualise the importance of cyclopean architecture and the Talayotic society. This will be followed by a screening of the second episode of the mini-series Talayotic Menorca: A Stone Legacy, entitled “El temps dels talaiots i l’herència dels foners” (The Age of the Talaiots and the Legacy of the Slingers), produced by Empàtic and IB3 Televisió. To wrap up to event, a typical Menorcan sweet made by Ca na Maru, inspired by the UNESCO World Heritage designation of Talayotic Menorca, will also be available to taste.
Schedule: Saturday 23 May at 13:00 (Catalan) at the Cultural Centre Antic Ajuntament, Tarragona.
These activities are organised by the Consell Insular de Menorca through the Agència Menorca Talaiòtica, in collaboration with the association “Amics del Museu de Menorca”, the Honderos de la Menor group, the Can Saura Museum of Ciutadella, the Grahame Pearce brewery, the production company Empàtic Audiovisual, IB3, and the Museu de Menorca.