The Guadalperal dolmen (Cáceres, Spain). Archaeological and heritage protection interventions

Abstract

In 2019, the Iberian Peninsula suffered the worst drought in recent decades. The lack of rain and the water shedding to feed the rivers meant a clear reduction in water levels at Spanish reservoirs. This situation allowed previously flooded lands to re-emerge on the surface, and in many cases, they were accessible on foot, as happened at the Valdecañas reservoir (Cáceres). The Dolmen of Guadalperal, due to its spectacular nature aroused great expectation and attracted several curious visitors and the media, who understood that this was a unique opportunity to visit it. The responsible administrations therefore needed to act by protecting and archaeologically studying the site.