The World Heritage Committee, the cultural arm of the United Nations is currently meeting in Istanbul, Turkey, for its 40th session. The committee, which meets every year to discuss ways to preserve the world’s cultural and historical treasures as well as to review new sites nominated for the World Heritage Site designation, announced the addition of the 9 new cultural sites to its growing list. Let us take a brief look at the nine sites.

These are three ancient dolmen sites are located just outside Antequera, in Andalusia in southern Spain. The three dolmens —the Menga and Viera dolmens and the Tolos of El Romeral— were built during the Neolithic and Bronze Age out of large stone blocks to form chambers where the dead were buried. There are many dolmen sites scattered across the world. The dolmens at Antequera are one of the largest known ancient megalithic structures in Europe. Aside from the dolmens, two natural monuments: the Peña de los Enamorados and El Torcal mountainous formations, are also included within the property.

Photo credit: www.axalingua.com