The Talayot Culture developed from local prehistoric communities and reached its peak during the Late Bronze and Early Iron Age. However, it remains unclear whether this was a continuous development or if the island was resettled by new inhabitants.

Some experts suggest that new settlers arrived on Mallorca and displaced earlier cultures. Their origins remain a mystery—possibly from the eastern Mediterranean, as similar 'Cyclopean' construction techniques can be found on Malta, Sardinia, and Corsica. Despite clear connections to other Mediterranean cultures (e.g., Balearic slingers serving as mercenaries for the Carthaginians and Romans), the Talayot Culture is considered a unique development of the Balearic Islands.

The massive construction of the Talayots, combined with fortified walls and defensive towers, suggests that these new inhabitants were not a peaceful people. They may have destroyed earlier settlements and replaced them with their own fortified villages. Soon, the entire island was covered with these Talayot settlements—around 250 have been identified, with an average distance of 3 km between them.

Each community likely consisted of around 100 people, living primarily from agriculture and livestock farming, supplemented by a well-developed craft tradition, as evidenced by finds of ceramics, tools, and jewelry. These artifacts provide valuable insights into their daily life and craftsmanship. The communities lived in villages surrounding the Talayots and developed complex social structures, possibly led by a ruling family within a hierarchical system. But how were they organized across the island? Was there a form of kingship? Were the settlements in constant conflict with one another? The Talayots may have served as watchtowers, residential structures, or gathering places, but their exact function remains a mystery to this day.