Megalithic tomb, Mane Braz, Brittany

Clooneen wedge tomb, the Burren Co. Mane Braz is a Megalithic tomb located 2 km southeast of Erdeven, Brittany, France. Clare, Ireland

A megalith is a large stone which has been used to construct a structure or monument, either alone or together with other stones. In Geology, rock is a naturally occurring aggregate of Minerals and/or Mineraloids The Earth's outer solid layer the ‘ Lithosphere Megalithic means structures made of such large stones, utilizing an interlocking system without the use of mortar or cement.

The word megalith comes from the Ancient Greek μέγας megas meaning great, and λίθος lithos meaning stone. Greek (el ελληνική γλώσσα or simply el ελληνικά — "Hellenic" is an Indo-European language, spoken today by 15-22 million people mainly "Megalith" also denotes an item consisting of rock(s) hewn in definite shapes for special purposes. ^[1][2][3] It has been used to describe buildings built by people from many parts of the world living in many different periods. A variety of large stones are seen as megaliths, with the most widely known megaliths not being sepulchral. ^[4] The construction of these structures took place mainly in the Neolithic (though earlier Mesolithic examples are known) and continued into the Chalcolithic and Bronze Age. The Neolithic (from Greek νεολιθικός — neolithikos from νέος neos, "new" + λίθος lithos The Mesolithic or Middle Stone Age was a period in the development of human technology in between the Paleolithic or Old Stone Age and the Neolithic or New Stone Age The Chalcolithic (Greek khalkos + lithos ' Copper stone' period or Copper Age period known as the '''Eneolithic''' ('''Æneolithic''' is a The term Bronze Age refers to a period in human cultural development when the most advanced Metalworking (at least in systematic and widespread use included techniques for ^[5]

Early stone complexes in eastern Turkey

Part of a megalithic structure at Göbekli Tepe (Turkey). Göbekli Tepe ( Turkish for "Hill with a Belly") is a hilltop sanctuary built on the highest point of an elongated mountain ridge about 15km northeast Turkey (Türkiye known officially as the Republic of Turkey ( is a Eurasian Country that stretches

At a number of sites in eastern Turkey, large ceremonial complexes from the 9th millennium BC have been discovered. Turkey (Türkiye known officially as the Republic of Turkey ( is a Eurasian Country that stretches The 9th millennium BC marks the beginning of the Neolithic period They belong to the incipient phases of agriculture and animal husbandry, from which the European (or Western) Neolithic would later develop. Agriculture refers to the production of goods through the growing of plants and fungi and the raising of domesticated Animals The study of agriculture Animal husbandry, also called Animal science, stockbreeding or simple husbandry, is the agricultural practice of breeding Large circular structures involving carved megalithic orthostats are a typical feature, eg. at Nevali Cori and Göbekli Tepe. Nevalı Çori was an early Neolithic settlement on the middle Euphrates, in the province of Şanlıurfa (Urfa, eastern Turkey. Göbekli Tepe ( Turkish for "Hill with a Belly") is a hilltop sanctuary built on the highest point of an elongated mountain ridge about 15km northeast Although these structures are the most ancient megalithic structures known so far, it is not clear that any of the European Megalithic traditions (see below) are actually derived from them. ^[6] At Göbekli Tepe four stone circles have been excavated from an estimated 20. Some measure up to 30 metres across. The stones carry carved reliefs of boars, foxes, lions, birds, snakes and scorpions. ^[7]

European megaliths

Poulnabrone dolmen, Ireland

The most common type of megalithic construction in Europe is the dolmen – a chamber consisting of upright stones (orthostats) with one or more large flat capstones forming a roof. Poulnabrone Dolmen ( Poll na mBrón in Irish meaning "hole of sorrows" is a Portal tomb in The Burren, County Clare A dolmen (also known as cromlech, anta, Hünengrab, Hunebed, Goindol, quoit, and portal dolmen) is a type of Forecourt In Archaeology, a forecourt is the name given to the area in front of certain types of Chamber tomb. Many of these, though by no means all, contain human remains, but it is debatable whether use as burial sites was their primary function. Though generally known as dolmens, many local names exist, such as anta in Portugal, stazzone in Sardinia, hunebed in Holland, Hünengrab in Germany, dys in Denmark, and cromlech in Wales. Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic (República Portuguesa is a country on the Iberian Peninsula. Sardinia (sɑrˈdɪnɪə Sardegna Sardigna or Sardinnya is the second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea (after Sicily) Holland is a region in the western part of the Netherlands. A maritime and economic power in the 17th century Holland today consists of the Dutch provinces of Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. The Kingdom of Denmark ( ˈd̥ænmɑɡ̊ (archaic ˈd̥anmɑːɡ̊ commonly known as Denmark, is a country in the Scandinavian region of northern Europe It is assumed that most dolmens were originally covered by earthen mounds.

The second most common tomb type is the passage grave. passage grave (sometimes hyphenated or passage tomb is a tomb usually dating to the Neolithic, where the burial chamber is reached along a distinct passage It normally consist of a square, circular or cruciform chamber with a slabbed or corbelled roof, accessed by a long, straight passageway, with the whole structure covered by a circular mound of earth. In Architecture a corbel (or console) is a piece of stone jutting out of a wall to carry any superincumbent weight Sometimes it is also surrounded by an external stone kerb. Prominent examples include the sites of Bru na Boinne and Carrowmore in Ireland, Maes Howe in Orkney, and Gavrinis in France. Carrowmore (Ceathrú Mór meaning Great Quarter is the site of a prehistoric Ritual landscape on the Knocknarea or Cúil Irra Peninsula in County Maeshowe (or Maes Howe) is a Neolithic Chambered cairn and Passage grave situated on mainland Orkney, Scotland. Orkney (also known as the Orkney Islands or incorrectly the Orkneys) is an Archipelago in northern Scotland, situated 10 miles (16 km north Gavrinis (Gavriniz is a small island situated in the Gulf of Morbihan in Brittany, France. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics.

The third tomb type is a diverse group known as gallery graves. A Gallery grave is a form of Megalithic tomb where there is no size difference between the burial chamber itself and the entrance passage These are axially arranged chambers placed under elongated mounds. The Irish court tombs, British long barrows and German Steinkisten belong to this group. The Court cairn is a Megalithic Chamber tomb found in south west Scotland and central and northern Ireland. A long barrow is a prehistoric monument dating to the early Neolithic period

Another type of megalithic monument is the single standing stone, or menhir. A menhir is a large upright Standing stone. Menhirs may be found singly as Monoliths or as part of a group of similar stones Some of these are thought to have an astronomical function as a marker or foresight, and in some areas long and complex alignments of such stones exist – for example at Carnac in Brittany. Carnac ( Breton = Karnag) is a commune beside the Gulf of Morbihan on the south coast of Brittany in the Morbihan Brittany (Breizh bʁejs Bretagne; Gallo: Bertaèyn) is a former independent Celtic kingdom and Duchy, now incorporated into

In parts of Britain and Ireland the best-known type of megalithic construction is the stone circle, of which there are hundreds of examples, including Stonehenge, Avebury, Ring of Brodgar and Beltany. See also Kingdom of Great Britain Great Britain (Breatainn Mhòr Prydain Fawr Breten Veur Graet Breetain is the larger of the two main islands Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world A stone circle is an ancient monument Such a monument is not always precisely circular and often forms an ellipse or a setting of four stones laid on an arc of a circle Stonehenge is a Prehistoric Monument located in the English county of Wiltshire, about west of Amesbury and north of Salisbury Avebury is the site of a large Henge and several Stone circles in the English county of Wiltshire surrounding the village of Avebury The Ring of Brodgar (or Brogar) is a Neolithic Henge and Stone circle in Orkney, Scotland. Beltany is a Neolithic Stone circle just south of Raphoe town in County Donegal, Ireland. These too display evidence of astronomical alignments, both solar and lunar. Stonehenge, for example, is famous for its solstice alignment. Solstices occur twice a year when the tilt of the Earth's axis is most oriented toward or away from the Sun, causing the Sun to reach its northernmost and southernmost extremes Examples of stone circles are also found in the rest of Europe. They are normally assumed to be of later date than the tombs, straddling the Neolithic and the Bronze Age. The Neolithic (from Greek νεολιθικός — neolithikos from νέος neos, "new" + λίθος lithos The term Bronze Age refers to a period in human cultural development when the most advanced Metalworking (at least in systematic and widespread use included techniques for

Tombs

Large T shaped Hunebed D27 in Borger-Odoorn, Netherlands. Borger-Odoorn ( is a Municipality in the northeastern Netherlands in the province of Drenthe. The Netherlands ( Dutch:, ˈnedərlɑnt is the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which consists of the Netherlands the Netherlands

Megalithic tombs are aboveground burial chambers, built of large stone slabs (megaliths) laid on edge and covered with earth or other, smaller stones. They are a type of chamber tomb, and the term is used to describe the structures built across Atlantic Europe, the Mediterranean and neighbouring regions, mostly during the Neolithic period, by Neolithic farming communities. A chamber tomb is a Tomb for Burial used in many different Cultures In the case of individual burials the chamber is thought to signify a higher status }} Atlantic Europe is a geographical and anthropological term for the western portion of Europe which borders the Atlantic Ocean. The Neolithic (from Greek νεολιθικός — neolithikos from νέος neos, "new" + λίθος lithos They differ from the contemporary long barrows through their structural use of stone. A long barrow is a prehistoric monument dating to the early Neolithic period

There is a huge variety of megalithic tombs. The free-standing single chamber dolmens and portal dolmens found in Brittany, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, Sweden, Wales and elsewhere consist of a large flat stone supported by three, four or more standing stones. A dolmen (also known as cromlech, anta, Hünengrab, Hunebed, Goindol, quoit, and portal dolmen) is a type of A dolmen (also known as cromlech, anta, Hünengrab, Hunebed, Goindol, quoit, and portal dolmen) is a type of Brittany (Breizh bʁejs Bretagne; Gallo: Bertaèyn) is a former independent Celtic kingdom and Duchy, now incorporated into The Kingdom of Denmark ( ˈd̥ænmɑɡ̊ (archaic ˈd̥anmɑːɡ̊ commonly known as Denmark, is a country in the Scandinavian region of northern Europe Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world The Netherlands ( Dutch:, ˈnedərlɑnt is the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which consists of the Netherlands the Netherlands "Sverige" redirects here For other uses see Sweden (disambiguation and Sverige (disambiguation. They were covered by a stone cairn or earth barrow. A cairn ( carn in Irish is an artificial pile of stones often in a conical form A tumulus (plural tumuli) is a Mound of earth and stones raised over a grave or graves

Examples with outer areas, not used for burial, are also known. The Court Cairns of south west Scotland and northern Ireland, the Severn-Cotswold tombs of south west England and the Transepted gallery graves of the Loire region in France share many internal features although the links between them are not yet fully understood. The Court cairn is a Megalithic Chamber tomb found in south west Scotland and central and northern Ireland. Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world Severn-Cotswold (or Cotswold-Severn) is a name given to a type of Megalithic Chamber tomb built by Neolithic peoples in Wales and England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland Transepted gallery grave is a term used to describe a number of similar Megalithic Chamber tombs built across Atlantic Europe during the Neolithic Loire ( Arpitan: Lêre, Occitan: Léger) is an administrative department in the east-central part of France occupying the This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. That they often have antechambers or forecourts is thought to imply a desire on the part of the builders to emphasise a special ritual or physical separation of the dead from the living. A ritual is a set of actions often thought to have Symbolic value the performance of which is usually prescribed by a Religion or by the Traditions

The Passage graves of Orkney, Ireland's Boyne Valley, and north Wales are even more complex and impressive, with cross shaped arrangements of chambers and passages. passage grave (sometimes hyphenated or passage tomb is a tomb usually dating to the Neolithic, where the burial chamber is reached along a distinct passage Orkney (also known as the Orkney Islands or incorrectly the Orkneys) is an Archipelago in northern Scotland, situated 10 miles (16 km north The workmanship on the stone blocks at Maeshowe for example is unknown elsewhere in north west Europe at the time. Maeshowe (or Maes Howe) is a Neolithic Chambered cairn and Passage grave situated on mainland Orkney, Scotland.

Megalithic tombs appear to have been used by communities for the long-term deposition of the remains of their dead and some seem to have undergone alteration and enlargement. The organisation and effort required to erect these large stones mean that the societies concerned must have placed great emphasis on the proper treatment of their dead. The ritual significance of the tombs is supported by the presence of megalithic art carved into the stones at some sites. A ritual is a set of actions often thought to have Symbolic value the performance of which is usually prescribed by a Religion or by the Traditions --> In the history of art prehistoric art is all art produced in preliterate cultures (prehistory beginning somewhere in very late geological history Hearths and deposits of pottery and animal bone found by archaeologists around some tombs also implies some form of burial feast or sacrificial rites took place there.

Cup and ring marks, England

Further examples of megalithic tombs include the stalled cairn at Midhowe in Orkney and the passage grave at Bryn Celli Ddu on Anglesey. Cup and ring marks or cup marks are a form of Prehistoric art found mainly in Northern England and Scotland as well as Ireland Brittany and North West Spain although Rousay ( Old Norse Hrólfsey meaning Rolf's Island is a small hilly island about 3 km (2 miles north of Orkney's Mainland, off the north coast of Bryn Celli Ddu is a Prehistoric site on the Welsh island of Anglesey located near Llanddaniel Fab. History There are numerous Megalithic monuments and Menhirs present on Anglesey testifying to the presence of mankind in prehistory Despite its name, the Stone Tomb in Ukraine was not a tomb but rather a sanctuary. Kamyana Mohyla (Кам'яна Могила Каменная могила literally "stone tomb" is an archaeological site in the Molochna River valley about a Ukraine (Україна Ukrayina, /ukrɑˈjinɑ/ is a country in Eastern Europe.

Other structures

Associated with the megalithic constructions across Europe there are often large earthworks of various designs – ditches and banks, broad terraces, circular enclosures known as henges, and frequently artificial mounds such as Silbury Hill in England and Monte d’Accoddi in Sardinia. In Archaeology, earthworks are artificial changes in land level often known as lumps and bumps. henge is a prehistoric Architectural structure. In form it is a nearly circular or oval-shaped flat area over 20 Metres (65 feet) in diameter Silbury Hill is a 40-metre (130-ft high man-made chalk Mound near Avebury in the English county of Wiltshire. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland Sassari (in Italian and Sassarese, Tàthari in Sardinian) is a town in the Sometimes, as at Glastonbury Tor in England, it is suggested that a natural hill has been artificially sculpted to form a maze or spiral pattern in the turf. Glastonbury Tor is a Hill at Glastonbury, Somerset, England, which features the roofless St

Spirals were evidently an important motif for the megalith builders, and have been found carved into megalithic structures all over Europe – along with other symbols such as lozenges, eye-patterns, zigzags in various configurations, and cup and ring marks. Cup and ring marks or cup marks are a form of Prehistoric art found mainly in Northern England and Scotland as well as Ireland Brittany and North West Spain although Whilst clearly not a written script in the modern sense of the term, these symbols are considered to have conveyed meaning to their creators, and are remarkably consistent across the whole of Western Europe.

Spread of megalithic architecture in Europe

Spread of megalithic architecture in Europe. ^[8]

In Western Europe and the Mediterranean, megaliths are generally constructions erected during the Neolithic or late stone age and Chalcolithic or Copper Age (4500-1500 BC). The Neolithic (from Greek νεολιθικός — neolithikos from νέος neos, "new" + λίθος lithos The Chalcolithic (Greek khalkos + lithos ' Copper stone' period or Copper Age period known as the '''Eneolithic''' ('''Æneolithic''' is a Perhaps the most famous megalithic structure is Stonehenge in England, although many others are known throughout the world. Stonehenge is a Prehistoric Monument located in the English county of Wiltshire, about west of Amesbury and north of Salisbury The French Comte de Caylus was the first to describe the Carnac stones. Anne-Claude-Philippe de Tubières-Grimoard de Pestels Levieux de Lévis comte de Caylus marquis d'Esternay baron de Bransac ( October 31, 1692 &ndash September The Carnac stones are an exceptionally dense collection of Megalithic sites around the French village of Carnac, in Brittany, consisting of alignments Legrand d'Aussy introduced the terms menhir and dolmen, both taken from the Breton language, into antiquarian terminology. A menhir is a large upright Standing stone. Menhirs may be found singly as Monoliths or as part of a group of similar stones A dolmen (also known as cromlech, anta, Hünengrab, Hunebed, Goindol, quoit, and portal dolmen) is a type of The Breton language ( Brezhoneg) formerly often called Armoric or Armorican, is a Celtic language spoken by some of the inhabitants of Brittany He interpreted megaliths as gallic tombs. In Britain, the antiquarians Aubrey and Stukeley conducted early research into megaliths. An antiquarian or antiquary is one concerned with Antiquities or things of the past "How these curiosities would be quite forgott did not such idle fellowes as I am putt them down The Rev Dr William Stukeley FRS, FRCP FSA ( November 7, 1687 &ndash March 3, 1765) was an English antiquary who pioneered In 1805, Jacques Cambry published a book called Monuments celtiques, ou recherches sur le culte des Pierres, précédées d'une notice sur les Celtes et sur les Druides, et suivies d'Etymologie celtiques, where he proposed a Celtic stone cult. Celts (ˈkɛlts or /ˈsɛlts/, see Names of the Celts This completely unfounded connection between druids and megaliths has haunted the public imagination ever since . A druid was a member of the priestly and learned class in the ancient Celtic societies In Belgium there is a megalithic site at Wéris, a little town situated in the Ardennes. The Kingdom of Belgium is a Country in northwest Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts its headquarters as well as those For the political subdivision of France see Ardennes (department. In the Netherlands, megalithic structures can be found in the north-east of the current, mostly in the province of Drenthe. Drenthe is a province of the Netherlands, located in the north-east of the country Knowth is a passage grave of the Brú na Bóinne neolithic complex in Ireland, dating from c. Knowth (Cnobha is the site of a Neolithic Passage grave, one of the ancient monuments of the Brú na Bóinne complex in the valley passage grave (sometimes hyphenated or passage tomb is a tomb usually dating to the Neolithic, where the burial chamber is reached along a distinct passage 3500-3000 BC. It contains more than a third of the total number of examples of megalithic art in all Western Europe, with over 200 decorated stones found during excavations. Megalithic art refers to the use of large stones as an artistic medium

Timeline of megalithic construction

Mesolithic

Excavation of some Megalithic monuments (in Britain, Ireland, Scandinavia and France) has revealed evidence of ritual activity, sometimes involving architecture, from the Mesolithic, ie predating the Neolithic monuments by centuries or millennia. The Mesolithic or Middle Stone Age was a period in the development of human technology in between the Paleolithic or Old Stone Age and the Neolithic or New Stone Age Caveats apply: in some cases, they are chronologically so far removed from their successors that continuity is unlikely, in other cases the early dates, or the exact character of activity, are controversial. Examples include:

• Circa 8000 BC: Wooden constructions in England (Stonehenge). England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland Stonehenge is a Prehistoric Monument located in the English county of Wiltshire, about west of Amesbury and north of Salisbury
• Circa 5400 BC: Possible early dates in Ireland (Carrowmore). Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world Carrowmore (Ceathrú Mór meaning Great Quarter is the site of a prehistoric Ritual landscape on the Knocknarea or Cúil Irra Peninsula in County

Neolithic

• Circa 5000 BC: Constructions in Portugal (Évora). Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic (República Portuguesa is a country on the Iberian Peninsula. The Almendres Cromlech Megalithic complex located located near Guadalupe Évora, Portugal, is one of the earliest public monuments Emergence of the Atlantic Neolithic period, the age of agriculture along the western shores of Europe. The Neolithic (from Greek νεολιθικός — neolithikos from νέος neos, "new" + λίθος lithos

• Circa 4800 BC: Constructions in Brittany (Barnenez) and Poitou (Bougon). Brittany (Breizh bʁejs Bretagne; Gallo: Bertaèyn) is a former independent Celtic kingdom and Duchy, now incorporated into The Cairn of Barnenez (also Barnenez Tumulus, Barnenez Mound etc in Breton Karn Barnenez; in French: Cairn de Barnenez Poitou was a province of west-central France whose capital city was Poitiers. The Tumulus of Bougon or Necropolis of Bougon ( French: " Tumulus de Bougon" "Nécropole de Bougon" is a group

• Circa 4000 BC: Constructions in Brittany (Carnac), Portugal (Lisbon), France (central and southern), Corsica, England and Wales. Carnac ( Breton = Karnag) is a commune beside the Gulf of Morbihan on the south coast of Brittany in the Morbihan Lisbon (Lisboa liʒˈboɐ is the Capital and largest city of Portugal. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Corsica (Corse Corsican and Italian: Corsica) is the fourth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea (after Sicily

• Circa 3700 BC: Constructions in Ireland (Knockiveagh and elsewhere). Banbridge District Council is a local council in counties Down and Armagh in Northern Ireland.

• Circa 3600 BC: Constructions in England (Maumbury Rings and Godmanchester), and Malta (Ġgantija and Mnajdra temples). Maumbury Rings is a Neolithic Henge in the south of Dorchester town in Dorset, England. Godmanchester is a small town in England, immediately south of the larger town of Huntingdon on the southern bank of the River Great Ouse. Malta, officially the Republic of Malta (Repubblika ta' Malta is a European Microstate, comprising an Archipelago of three islands Ġgantija ( Ggantia) is a Neolithic, Megalithic Temple complex on the Mediterranean Island of Gozo, which Mnajdra is a prehistoric Megalithic temple complex that lies on the southern coast of Malta and is approximately 500 metres from the Ħaġar Qim megalithic

• Circa 3500 BC: Constructions in Spain (Málaga and Guadiana), Ireland (south-west), France (Arles and the north), Sardinia, Sicily, Malta (and elsewhere in the Mediterranean), Belgium (north-east) and Germany (central and south-west). Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Guadiana (Wadi Ana Anas Guadiana Guadiana pron. gwɐdi'ɐnɐ or Odiana) is one of the major Rivers of Spain and Portugal Arles (aʁl̥ Provençal Occitan: Arles in both classical and Mistralian norms is a City in the south of France, Sardinia (sɑrˈdɪnɪə Sardegna Sardigna or Sardinnya is the second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea (after Sicily) Sicily ( Italian and Sicilian: Sicilia) is an autonomous region of Italy. The Kingdom of Belgium is a Country in northwest Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts its headquarters as well as those Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe.

• Circa 3400 BC: Constructions in Ireland (Newgrange), Netherlands (north-east), Germany (northern and central) Sweden and Denmark. Newgrange (Dún Fhearghusa is one of the Passage tombs of the Brú na Bóinne complex in County Meath, one of the most famous The Netherlands ( Dutch:, ˈnedərlɑnt is the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which consists of the Netherlands the Netherlands "Sverige" redirects here For other uses see Sweden (disambiguation and Sverige (disambiguation. The Kingdom of Denmark ( ˈd̥ænmɑɡ̊ (archaic ˈd̥anmɑːɡ̊ commonly known as Denmark, is a country in the Scandinavian region of northern Europe

• Circa 3200 BC: Constructions in Malta (Ħaġar Qim and Tarxien). The temple of Ħaġar Qim IPA stands on a ridge some two kilometers away from the village of Qrendi. Tarxien ( English: Tarsien) is a small village found in the southern part of Malta

• Circa 3000 BC: Constructions in France (Saumur, Dordogne, Languedoc, Biscay, and the Mediterranean coast), Spain (Los Millares), Sicily, Belgium (Ardennes), and Orkney, as well as the first henges (circular earthworks) in Britain. Saumur is a town and commune in the Maine-et-Loire département of France on the Loire River at, with an approximate Dordogne (Dordonha is a department in central France named after the Dordogne River. Languedoc ( in French Lengadòc in Occitan) is a former Province of France, now continued in the modern-day ''régions'' of Languedoc-Roussillon Population Of the 1133444 people who live in Biscay about 35% live in the capital Bilbao and 88% in its metropolitan area. Los Millares is the name of a Chalcolithic occupation site 17km north of Almería, in the municipality of Santa Fe de Mondújar, Andalusia For the political subdivision of France see Ardennes (department. Orkney (also known as the Orkney Islands or incorrectly the Orkneys) is an Archipelago in northern Scotland, situated 10 miles (16 km north henge is a prehistoric Architectural structure. In form it is a nearly circular or oval-shaped flat area over 20 Metres (65 feet) in diameter See also Kingdom of Great Britain Great Britain (Breatainn Mhòr Prydain Fawr Breten Veur Graet Breetain is the larger of the two main islands

• Circa 2800 BC: Climax of the megalithic Funnel-beaker culture in Denmark, and the construction of the henge at Stonehenge. Old Europepng|350px|right|thumb|Ca 3500 BC map of Europe showing an approximation of the Funnelbeaker culture in green and a number of important contemporary cultures see Vinca,

Chalcolithic

• Circa 2500 BC: Constructions in Brittany (Le Menec, Kermario and elsewhere), Italy (Otranto), Sardinia, and Scotland (north-east), plus the climax of the megalithic Bell-beaker culture in Iberia, Germany, and the British Isles (stone circle at Stonehenge). La Trinité-sur-Mer ( An Drinded-Karnag in Breton) is a small French village on the coast of Brittany, east of Carnac. The Carnac stones are an exceptionally dense collection of Megalithic sites around the French village of Carnac, in Brittany, consisting of alignments Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest Otranto is a town and commune in the Province of Lecce ( Apulia, Italy) in a fertile region once famous for its breed of horses Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. The Bell-Beaker culture (sometimes shortened to Beaker culture, Beaker people, or Beaker folk; Glockenbecherkultur) ca The Iberian Peninsula, or Iberia, is located in the extreme southwest of Europe, and includes modern day Spain, Portugal, Andorra The British Isles (Irish variously Na hOileáin Bhriotanacha, Oileáin Iarthair Eorpa, Éire agus an Bhreatain Mhór; Ellanyn Goaldagh Eileanan With the bell-beakers the Neolithic period gave way to the Chalcolithic, the age of copper. The Chalcolithic (Greek khalkos + lithos ' Copper stone' period or Copper Age period known as the '''Eneolithic''' ('''Æneolithic''' is a

• Circa 2400 BC: The Bell-beaker culture was dominant in Britain, and hundreds of smaller stone circles were built in the British Isles at this time. A stone circle is an ancient monument Such a monument is not always precisely circular and often forms an ellipse or a setting of four stones laid on an arc of a circle

Bronze Age

• Circa 2000 BC: Constructions in Brittany (Er Grah), Italy (Bari), Sardinia (northern), and Scotland (Callanish). Locmariaquer (Lokmaria-Kaer is a village and commune of western France, on the western shore of the Gulf of Morbihan, in the département Bari ( Barium in Latin, Bàrion or Vàrion in Greek, Bare in Neapolitan Callanish, to give its English approximation( Scottish Gaelic: Calanais) is a village (township on the West Side of the Isle of Lewis, in the The Chalcolithic period gave way to the Bronze Age in western and northern Europe. The term Bronze Age refers to a period in human cultural development when the most advanced Metalworking (at least in systematic and widespread use included techniques for

• Circa 1800 BC: Constructions in Italy (Giovinazzo). Giovinazzo is a port city situated on the Adriatic coast in the region of Apulia, Italy.

• Circa 1500 BC: Constructions in Portugal (Alter Pedroso and Mourela). Alter do Chão ( pron aɫ'tɛɾ du ʃɐ̃w̃ is a municipality in Portugal with a total area of 362 The Peneda-Gerês National Park (Parque Nacional da Peneda-Gerês also known simply as Gerês, is the only National park in Portugal (although many

• Circa 1400 BC: Burial of the Egtved Girl in Denmark, whose body is today one of the most well-preserved examples of its kind. The Egtved Girl ( c. 1390&ndash1370 BC

• Circa 1200 BC: Last vestiges of the megalithic tradition in the Mediterranean and elsewhere come to an end during the general population upheaval known to ancient history as the Invasions of the Sea Peoples. The Sea Peoples is the term used for a confederacy of seafaring raiders of the second millennium BC who sailed into the eastern shores of the Mediterranean, caused political

African megaliths

Nabta Playa

Nabta megalith

Nabta Playa at south west corner of western desert was once a large lake in the Nubian Desert, located 500 miles south of modern day Cairo. Nabta Playa was once a large Basin in the Nubian Desert, located approximately 500 miles south of modern day Cairo or about 100 kilometers west of Nabta Playa was once a large Basin in the Nubian Desert, located approximately 500 miles south of modern day Cairo or about 100 kilometers west of This article is about the region in Africa for other uses see Nubia (disambiguation. Cairo () which means "the Vanquisher" or "the Triumphant" is the capital and largest city of Egypt. ^[9] By the 5th millennium BC the peoples in Nabta Playa had fashioned the world's earliest known astronomical device, 1000 years older than, but comparable to, Stonehenge. Astronomy (from the Greek words astron (ἄστρον "star" and nomos (νόμος "law" is the scientific study Stonehenge is a Prehistoric Monument located in the English county of Wiltshire, about west of Amesbury and north of Salisbury ^[10] Research shows it to be a prehistoric calendar that accurately marks the summer solstice. The word Calendar consist of two words 1 Cal ( in Pashto means Year in Hindi and Persian is Sal- also means Year Summer is one of the four Temperate Seasons Summer marks the warmest time of year with the longest days Solstices occur twice a year when the tilt of the Earth's axis is most oriented toward or away from the Sun, causing the Sun to reach its northernmost and southernmost extremes ^[10] Findings indicate that the region was occupied only seasonally, likely only in the summer when the local lake filled with water for grazing cattle. Summer is one of the four Temperate Seasons Summer marks the warmest time of year with the longest days Cattle, colloquially referred to as cows, are domesticated Ungulates a member of the Subfamily Bovinae of the family ^[11][10]. It is to be mentioned that there are other megalithic stone circles in the south of western desert.

Megalithic traditions of Asia: the Korean Peninsula

Northern-style megalithic burial from Jukrim-ri, Gochang-eub, North Jeolla Province, Korea. Jeollabuk-do (North Jeolla is a province in the southwest of South Korea. Korea is a geographic area composed of two sovereign countries a civilization and a former state situated on the Korean Peninsula in East Asia.

Megalithic burials are found in Northeast and Southeast Asia. They are found in Liaoning, Shandong, and Zhejiang in China, the Korean Peninsula, Kyūshū in Japan, and parts of India. ( is a northeastern province of the People's Republic of China. ( is a coastal province of eastern People's Republic of China. Zhejiang ( is an eastern coastal province of the People's Republic of China. China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National Physical geography See also Geography of North Korea, Geography of South Korea Mountains cover 70 percent of the Korean Peninsula and arable plains are or Kyushu is the third-largest Island of Japan and most southwesterly of its four main islands. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country A living megalithic tradition is found on the island of Sumba in Indonesia. Sumba is an island in Indonesia, and is one of the Lesser Sunda Islands. Perhaps the greatest concentration of megalithic burials is in Korea. Archaeologists estimate varyingly that there are 15,000 to 100,000 southern megaliths in the Korean Peninsula. ^[12][13]

Northern style

Northeast Asian megalithic traditions originated in Northeast China, in particular the Liao River basin^[14][15]. Northeast China ( is a geographical region of China. It is separated from Russia largely by the Amur, Argun, and Ussuri rivers from The Liao He (遼河 Liao River is the principal River in southern Manchuria (1345 km The practice of erecting megalithic burials spread quickly from the Liao River Basin and into the Korean Peninsula, where the structure of megaliths is geographically and chronologically distinct. The earliest megalithic burials are called "northern" or "table-style" because they feature an above-ground burial chamber formed by heavy stone slabs that form a rectangular cist. ^[16] An oversized capstone is placed over the stone slab burial chamber, giving the appearance of a table-top. These megalithic burials date to the early part of the Mumun Pottery Period (c. The Mumun pottery period is an Archaeological era in Korean prehistory that dates to approximately 1500-300 BC 1500-850 BC) and are distributed, with a few exceptions, north of the Han River. Few northern-style megaliths in China contain grave goods such as Liaoning bronze daggers, prompting some archaeologists to interpret the burials as the graves of chiefs or preeminent individuals. China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National Grave goods, in Archaeology and Anthropology, are the items buried along with the body ( is a northeastern province of the People's Republic of China. ^[17] However, whether a result of grave-robbery or intentional mortuary behaviour, most northern megaliths contain no grave goods.

Southern style

Southern-style megalithic burials are distributed in the southern Korean Peninsula. Physical geography See also Geography of North Korea, Geography of South Korea Mountains cover 70 percent of the Korean Peninsula and arable plains are It is thought that most of them date to the latter part of the Early Mumun or to the Middle Mumun Period. ^[18][19] Southern-style megaliths are typically smaller in scale than northern megaliths. The interment area of southern megaliths has an underground burial chamber made of earth or lined with thin stone slabs. A massive capstone is placed over the interment area and is supported by smaller propping stones. Most of the megalithic burials on the Korean Peninsula are of the southern type. Physical geography See also Geography of North Korea, Geography of South Korea Mountains cover 70 percent of the Korean Peninsula and arable plains are

Representations of a dagger (right) and two human figures, one of which is kneeling (left), carved into the capstone of Megalithic Burial No. 5, Orim-dong, Yeosu, Korea. Yeosu ( Yeosu-si) is a city in South Jeolla Province South Korea.

As with northern megaliths, southern examples contain few, if any, artifacts. However, a small number of megalithic burials contain fine red-burnished pottery, bronze daggers, polished groundstone daggers, and greenstone ornaments. Southern megalithic burials are often found in groups, spread out in lines that are parallel with the direction of streams. Megalithic cemeteries contain burials that are linked together by low stone platforms made from large river cobbles. Broken red-burnished pottery and charred wood found on these platforms has led archaeologists to hypothesize that these platform were sometimes used for ceremonies and rituals. ^[20] The capstones of many southern megaliths have 'cup-marks' carvings. A small number of capstones have human and dagger representations.

Capstone-style

These megaliths are distinguished from other types by the presence of a burial shaft, sometimes up to 4 m in depth, which is lined with large cobbles. ^[21] A large capstone is placed over the burial shaft without propping stones. Capstone-style megaliths are the most monumental type in the Korean Peninsula, and they are primarily distributed near or on the south coast of Korea. Physical geography See also Geography of North Korea, Geography of South Korea Mountains cover 70 percent of the Korean Peninsula and arable plains are It seems that most of these burials date to the latter part of the Middle Mumun (c. 700-550 BC), and they may have been built into the early part of the Late Mumun. An example is found near modern Changwon at Deokcheon-ni, where a small cemetery contained a capstone burial (No. Changwon is a city in and the capital of South Gyeongsang Province in South Korea. 1) with a massive, rectangularly shaped, stone and earthen platform. Archaeologists were not able to recover the entire feature, but the low platform was at least 56 X 18 m in size.

Analysis and evaluation

Megaliths were used for a variety of purposes. The purpose of megaliths ranged from serving as boundary markers of territory, to a reminder of past events, to being part of the society's religion. ^[22] Amongst the indigenous peoples of India, Malaysia, Polynesia, North Africa, North America, and South America, the worship of these stones, or the use of these stones to symbolize a spirit or deity, is a possibility. The term Indigenous Peoples or autochthonous peoples can be used to describe any Ethnic group who inhabit a geographic region with which they have the earliest historical India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country For the biogeographical region see Malesia Malaysia (məˈleɪʒə or /məˈleɪziə/ is a country that consists of thirteen states and Polynesia (from Greek: πολύς many, νῆσος island) is a Subregion of Oceania, comprising a large grouping of over North Africa or Northern Africa is the Northernmost Region of the African Continent, separated by the Sahara from Sub-Saharan South America is a Continent of the Americas, situated entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a ^[23] In the early 20th century, some scholars believed that all megaliths belonged to one global "Megalithic culture"^[24] (hyperdiffusionism, e. g. 'the Manchester school',^[25] by Grafton Elliot Smith and William James Perry), but this has long been disproved by modern dating methods. Sir Grafton Elliot Smith, FRS FRCP ( August 15, 1871 in Grafton New South Wales, - January 1, 1937 in London William James Perry (1887 &ndash 1949 usually known as W J Perry, was a leader in Cultural anthropology at University College, London Nor is it believed any longer that there was a European megalithic culture, although regional cultures existed, even within such a small areas as the British Isles. The archaeologist Euan Mackie wrote "Likewise it cannot be doubted that important regional cultures existed in the Neolithic period and can be defined by different kinds of stone circles and local pottery styles (Ruggles & Barclay 2000: figure 1). No-one has ever been rash enough to claim a nation-wide unity of all aspects of Neolithic archaeology!" ^[26]

Types of megalithic structures

The types of megalithic structures can be divided into two categories, the "Polylithic type" and the "Monolithic type". ^[27] Different megalithic structures include:

Gallery

Easter Island's Moai at Rano Raraku	Inside the burial chamber, Mane Braz	Menhirs at the Almendres Cromlech	Megalithic tomb in Khakasiya, Russian Federation
Megalithic tomb in Khakasiya, Russian Federation	Capstones of southern-style megalithic burials in Guam-ri, Jeollabuk-do, Korea	Ale's Stones at Kåseberga, around ten kilometres south east of Ystad, Sweden	Bryn Celli Ddu
Talaiot in Mallorca	Deer stone near Mörön in Mongolia	the Great Menhir of Er Grah, the largest known single stone erected by Neolithic man, later deliberately toppled. The Stone ship was a Germanic burial custom typical of Scandinavia, built from tightly or loosely fit slabs or stones A statue is a Sculpture in the round representing a person or persons an animal or an event normally full-length as opposed to a bust, and at least close to life-size Moai (or mo‘ai) (ˈmoʊаɪ are Monolithic human figures carved from rock on the Polynesian island of Rapa Nui (Easter Island Moai (or mo‘ai) (ˈmoʊаɪ are Monolithic human figures carved from rock on the Polynesian island of Rapa Nui (Easter Island Rano Raraku is a volcanic crater formed of consolidated Volcanic ash, or Tuff, and located on the lower slopes of Terevaka in the Rapa Nui National Republic of Khakassia (Респу́блика Хака́сия Khakass: Хакасия Республиказы or Khakasiya (ru Хака́сия is a federal Russia (Россия Rossiya) or the Russian Federation ( Rossiyskaya Federatsiya) is a transcontinental Country extending Republic of Khakassia (Респу́блика Хака́сия Khakass: Хакасия Республиказы or Khakasiya (ru Хака́сия is a federal Russia (Россия Rossiya) or the Russian Federation ( Rossiyskaya Federatsiya) is a transcontinental Country extending Jeollabuk-do (North Jeolla is a province in the southwest of South Korea. Korea is a geographic area composed of two sovereign countries a civilization and a former state situated on the Korean Peninsula in East Asia. Ystad is a city with a population of 17286 (2005 in the traditional province of Scania in "Sverige" redirects here For other uses see Sweden (disambiguation and Sverige (disambiguation. Bryn Celli Ddu is a Prehistoric site on the Welsh island of Anglesey located near Llanddaniel Fab. The talaiots, or talayots, are Bronze Age Megaliths on the islands of Minorca and Majorca. Majorca ( Spanish and Mallorca is the largest island of Spain. Mongolia (mɒŋˈɡoʊliə, literally Mongol country/nation,) is a Landlocked Country in East The Broken Menhir of Er Grah is an ancient Megalith in Locmariaquer, Brittany.

Notes

References

Articles

Books

See also

Plain of Jars ranging from the Khorat Plateau in Thailand in the south, through Laos and to North Cachar Hills of northern India. The Plain of Jars is a large group of historic cultural sites in Laos containing thousands of stone jars which lie scattered throughout the Xieng Khouang plain in

External links

• Dolmens, Menhirs & Stones-Circles in the South of France
• Megaliths in Charente-Maritime, France
• Dolmen Path - Russian Megaliths
• The Megalithic Portal and Megalith Map
• Index of Megalithic monuments in Ireland
• The Modern Antiquarian
• Pretanic World - Megaliths and Monuments
• Modern Megalith-Building