A megalith is a large stone that has been used to construct a prehistoric structure or monument, either alone or together with other stones. There are over 35,000 structures or arrangements in Europe alone, located widely from Sweden to the Mediterranean sea.
The word was first used in 1849 by the British antiquarian Algernon Herbert in reference to Stonehenge and derives from the Ancient Greek words “mega” for great and “lithos” for stone. Most extant megaliths were erected between the Neolithic period (although earlier Mesolithic examples are known) through the Chalcolithic period and into the Bronze Age.
Types and definitions
While “megalith” is often used to describe a single piece of stone, it also can be used to denote one or more rocks hewn in definite shapes for special purposes. It has been used to describe structures built by people from many parts of the world living in many different periods. The most widely known megaliths are not tombs.
Dolmen at Ganghwa Island, South Korea (c. 300 BC)Megalithic Batu Brak in Batu Brak District, West Lampung Regency, Lampung Province, Indonesia (c. 2100 BC)Megalithic grave Harhoog in Keitum, Sylt, Germany (c. 3000 BC)The largest megalith of the ancient world, found in Baalbek, Lebanon, was quarried during the Roman EmpireGöbekli Tepe was inhabited from around 9500 BCE to at least 8000 BCE. Göbekli Tepe was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2018, recognising its outstanding universal value as “one of the first manifestations of human-made monumental architecture.Spread of megalithic culture in EuropeKlekkende Høj passage grave, Denmark, c. 3500-2800 BCA model of the prehistoric town of Los Millares, with its walls (Andalusia, Spain)Zorats Karer in ArmeniaDaorson, Bosnia, built around a prehistoric central fortified settlement or acropolis (existed there cca. 17–16th to the end of the Bronze Age, cca. 9–8th c. BCE), surrounded by cyclopean walls (similar to Mycenae) dated to the 4th c. BCE.Triangular prismatic megalith of Valle Levante, Fondachelli-Fantina, SicilyPoulnabrone portal tomb, IrelandLarge, T-shaped Hunebed D27 in Borger-Odoorn, NetherlandsDolmen of Monte Bubbonia (Sicily)Construction of a megalith graveEagle, one of the Megaliths of Argimusco, SicilySaint-Michel tumulus, megalith grave in BrittanyNuraghe in SardiniaTumulus of Kercado, near Carnac. Smaller but older structure in the area. (Part of the Cairn is visible)Northern-style megalithic burial dolmen from Ganghwa Island, South KoreaCup and ring marks, in EnglandExample of a southern-style dolmen at Ganghwa Island, South KoreaCross section of a megalithic burial siteMegalithic dolmen in Marayoor, IndiaGöbekli TepeZorats Karer at Armenia (Armenian Stonehenge)Megalithic structure at Atlit Yam, IsraelStanding stone in Amman, Jordan.Easter Island’s Moai at Rano RarakuInside the burial chamber at Mane Braz, Brittany, FranceMenhirs at the Almendres Cromlech, Évora, PortugalStanding stone at Ader, Southern JordanToraja monolith, c. 1935Megalithic tomb in Khakasiya, Russian FederationCapstones of southern-style megalithic burials in Guam-ri, Jeollabuk-do, KoreaAle’s Stones at Kåseberga, around ten kilometres south east of Ystad, SwedenBryn Celli Ddu in WalesTalaiot in MajorcaGiant’s grave near Dorgali in Sardinia, ItalyDeer stone near Mörön in Mongoliathe Great Menhir of Er Grah in Brittany, the largest known single stone erected by Neolithic man, which later fell downTaula in Talati de Dalt, MenorcaMegaliths with engraved figures in Tiya, southern EthiopiaDolmen of Avola (Sicily, Italy)Dolmen at the Kuejiyeh dolmen field close to Madaba, JordanDolmen of Menga in Antequera, Spain
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