Summary.Talayots are stone monuments which were constructed singly, or as part of fortified settlements, in the Balearic islands during the late second and first millennia bc. Along with comparable monuments in Sardinia (‘nuraghi') and Corsica (‘torri'), there has been debate over their function(s) within Bronze and Iron Age societies. In recent intra‐site analyses, the material and faunal remains within such monuments have been contrasted with those found in surrounding, domestic structures. Interpretations of talayots as elite residences, or locations for ceremonial feasting, butchery and storage have been evaluated. Using data from talayot 4 at Son Ferrandell Oleza, the authors argue that an understanding of formation processes is an essential basis for any attempt to make such inferences about functional differentiation within Bronze and Iron Age settlements on West Mediterranean is