The Cova des Fum: Archaeological Findings and Historical Significance

Although Formentera is a small island with limited resources, humans have inhabited the territory since the Bronze Age, marking the beginning of the history of Formentera. In the 70’s and 80’s, various archaeological remains were discovered, including those from the Cova Des Fum, which provides the first indications of a prehistoric population settled on the island. Pottery fragments and vessels typical of the Early Copper Age were recovered, confirming the human presence on the island since that period.

The discovery of the megalithic tomb of Ca Na Costa in Es Pujols further corroborated the presence of a prehistoric community settled on the island. The Cova des Fum is, without any doubt, the definitive proof of the presence of permanent, stable, and adapted human settlements in the territory of Formentera during the late Neolithic period. The most characteristic Late Neolithic sites are the dwellings found in the area of Cap De Barbaria and discovered near the tomb of Ca Na Costa and the Cova des Fum.

Interestingly, it was in the Cova des Fum where one of the most important clashes during the period of Crusades took place in Formentera, when the island was under Berber control and was used as an outpost for corsair attacks on Christian territories. During Sigurd I's journey to Constantinople in 1108, he first arrived in Formentera, where he found a group of Saracens who had made a stronghold on the island. Sigurd I's ships were initially attacked but could not withstand the onslaught and ended up fleeing, using the Cova des Fum as a last refuge.

From this episode, the cave took the name by which everyone knows it now, the 'Smoke Cave'. Unfortunately, the access of the curious and amateurs during the 80's and 90's caused some losses of important details due to the alteration of the different archaeological strata and the collection of samples without much criteria.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata