Longar

Longar Hypogeum is a Neolithic-Chalcolithic collective tomb tucked into the hills of Viana, a town in Navarre, Spain, barely a hundred metres from the border with Álava. Dug into a remote hillside, it holds the remains of more than a hundred people and ranks among the most significant prehistoric sites in the region.

Where exactly is it?

The tomb sits on the southern slope of Alto de los Bojes, at roughly 750 metres above sea level. The surrounding landscape is classic dry southern Navarre: almond groves, vineyards, streambeds and limestone hillsides, with no buildings or facilities nearby — this is a genuine trip into open countryside.

How do you get there?

Leave Viana on the road toward Aras and Aguilar de Codés. After about 4.15 km, turn left onto a track that runs between almond trees and vines. A standard car can handle roughly another 4 km of this track, down to the point where two streams meet — that is where you leave the vehicle. From there it is about a kilometre on foot, uphill along a marked path. All told, the walk from Viana covers close to 4.6 km and is well signposted throughout.

What will you actually see?

The hypogeum opens with a monumental entrance corridor lined on both sides with upright slate slabs, known as orthostats. This passage narrows into a tight gap, only about 50 cm wide, cut through a dry-stone slate wall built without mortar. Beyond it lies the burial chamber itself — an elongated space that curves into a semicircular end. This layout sets Longar apart from the typical dolmens found nearby in Rioja Alavesa, and archaeologists consider it a structural rarity for the region.

A Viana resident, Luis Arazuri Izquierdo, discovered the tomb in 1985. Three excavation campaigns followed between 1991 and 1993, and the site was restored and opened to visitors in 1994. The digs showed the chamber was used for collective burial over more than a century, holding the remains of over a hundred individuals — men, women and children of every age. Excavators also recovered stone tools and evidence pointing to farming activity among the community that used the tomb. Radiocarbon dating places the structure at the end of the Neolithic and the start of the Chalcolithic, between roughly 2650 and 2500 BC — making it about 4,650 years old.

When should you visit?

Because the site sits exposed on a hillside, spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons — mild temperatures make both the drive and the final uphill walk far more pleasant. In summer, start early, bring water and wear sturdy shoes, since the last stretch climbs over uneven ground. After rain in winter, the track can turn muddy, so it is worth checking conditions beforehand. Viana's tourism office publishes a short information leaflet on the hypogeum on its website, worth downloading before you set out.

Frequently asked questions

Do you need a 4x4 to reach the tomb? No. A regular car will get you to within about a kilometre of the site; only the final stretch has to be walked.

How many people were buried at Longar? Excavations carried out between 1991 and 1993 uncovered the remains of more than a hundred individuals — men, women and children — deposited in the chamber over more than a century of use.

What makes Longar different from other megalithic tombs in the area? Its architecture is unusual for the region: a long, semicircular underground chamber reached through a corridor of standing slate slabs, distinct from the classic dolmens found in nearby Rioja Alavesa.

Is there an entrance fee? No. It is an open-air archaeological site with free access and no fixed opening hours.