Megalith

A megalith islarge stone which has been usedconstructstructure or monument either alone orother stones. Megalithic meansbuilding or structure madesuch stones, but withoutusemortar or cement. The term can be useddescribe buildings erected bypeople from many parts ofworld livingmany different periods. In Western Europe andMediterraneangenreally refersconstructions erected duringNeolithic or late stone ageChalcolithic or Copper Age (4500 - 1500 B.C.E).

Different megalithic structures include:

• Orthostat: Thisan upright slab forming part oflarger structure.
• Menhir: Thissingle standing stone.
• Dolmen: This isfree standing chamber covered bycapstone aslid. Sometimes these had previously been burial mounds.

Many megalithic monuments were burial mounds which were often re-used by different generations. The chambered cairn iscommon typecollective tomb. Somethesepassage graves generally builtdrystone walling and/or megaliths often withround burial chamber inround mound withstraight passage leading out. Gallery graves havelong megalithic chamberparallel sides often inlong moundan entrance at one end.

Perhapsmost famous megalithic structureStonehengeEngland, although many othersknown throughoutworld.

Many megaliths were thoughthavepurposedetermining important astronomical events such assolsticeequinox dates (see archaeoastronomy).

Other megaliths include:

• Carnac, Brittany, France
• Filitosa, Corsica, France
• New Grange, Ireland
• Skara Brae, Orkney, Scotland
• Tarxien, Malta
• Easter Island

External Links

• The Megalithic PortalMegalith Map
• Dolmen Path - Russian Megaliths