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At a number of sites in eastern [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkey Turkey], large [[ceremonial]] complexes from the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9000_BC 9th millennium BC] have been [[discovered]]. They belong to the incipient [[phases]] of [[agriculture]] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_husbandry animal husbandry], from which the European (or Western) [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neolithic Neolithic] would later develop. Large circular [[structures]] involving carved megalithic [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megalithic_architectural_elements#Orthostat orthostats] are a typical feature, e.g. at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nevali_Cori Nevali Cori] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%C3%B6bekli_Tepe Göbekli Tepe]. Although these [[structures]] are the most ancient megalithic structures known so far, it is not clear that any of the European Megalithic [[traditions]] are actually derived from them. At [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%C3%B6bekli_Tepe 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.

At a number of sites in eastern [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkey Turkey], large [[ceremonial]] complexes from the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9000_BC 9th millennium BC] have been [[discovered]]. They belong to the incipient [[phases]] of [[agriculture]] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_husbandry animal husbandry], from which the European (or Western) [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neolithic Neolithic] would later develop. Large circular [[structures]] involving carved megalithic [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megalithic_architectural_elements#Orthostat orthostats] are a typical feature, e.g. at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nevali_Cori Nevali Cori] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%C3%B6bekli_Tepe Göbekli Tepe]. Although these [[structures]] are the most ancient megalithic structures known so far, it is not clear that any of the European Megalithic [[traditions]] are actually derived from them. At [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%C3%B6bekli_Tepe 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.

==European megaliths==

==European megaliths==

The most common type of megalithic construction in Europe is the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal_tomb portal tomb] – a chamber consisting of upright stones (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthostat orthostats]) with one or more large flat capstones forming a roof. 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'' the correct term accepted by [[archaeologists]] is ''portal tomb''. However many local [[names]] exist, such as ''anta'' in Portugal, ''stazzone'' in Sardinia, ''hunebed'' in the Netherlands, ''Hünengrab'' in Germany, ''dysse'' in Denmark, and ''cromlech'' in Wales. It is [[assumed]] that most portal tombs were originally covered by earthen mounds.

The most common type of megalithic construction in Europe is the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal_tomb portal tomb] – a chamber consisting of upright stones [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthostat orthostats]) with one or more large flat capstones forming a roof. 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'' the correct term accepted by [[archaeologists]] is ''portal tomb''. However many local [[names]] exist, such as ''anta'' in Portugal, ''stazzone'' in Sardinia, ''hunebed'' in the Netherlands, ''Hünengrab'' in Germany, ''dysse'' in Denmark, and ''cromlech'' in Wales. It is [[assumed]] that most portal tombs were originally covered by earthen mounds.

The second-most-common [[tomb]] type is the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passage_grave passage grave]. It normally consists of a square, circular, or cruciform chamber with a slabbed or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corbelling corbelled] roof, accessed by a long, straight passageway, with the whole [[structure]] covered by a circular mound of [[earth]]. Sometimes it is also [[surrounded]] by an external stone ''kerb''. Prominent examples include the sites of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bru_na_Boinne Brú na Bóinne] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrowmore Carrowmore] in Ireland, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maes_Howe Maes Howe] in Orkney, and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gavrinis Gavrinis] in France.

The second-most-common [[tomb]] type is the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passage_grave passage grave]. It normally consists of a square, circular, or cruciform chamber with a slabbed or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corbelling corbelled] roof, accessed by a long, straight passageway, with the whole [[structure]] covered by a circular mound of [[earth]]. Sometimes it is also [[surrounded]] by an external stone ''kerb''. Prominent examples include the sites of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bru_na_Boinne Brú na Bóinne] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrowmore Carrowmore] in Ireland, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maes_Howe Maes Howe] in Orkney, and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gavrinis Gavrinis] in France.

In parts of Britain and Ireland the best-known type of megalithic construction is the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_circle stone circle], of which there are hundreds of examples, including [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stonehenge Stonehenge], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avebury Avebury], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ring_of_Brodgar Ring of Brodgar], and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beltany Beltany]. These, too, display [[evidence]] of [[astronomical]] alignments, both solar and lunar. Stonehenge, for example, is famous for its [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solstice solstice] alignment. Examples of stone circles are also found in the rest of Europe. They are assumed to be of later date than the [[tombs]], straddling the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neolithic Neolithic] and the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bronze_Age Bronze Ages].

In parts of Britain and Ireland the best-known type of megalithic construction is the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_circle stone circle], of which there are hundreds of examples, including [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stonehenge Stonehenge], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avebury Avebury], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ring_of_Brodgar Ring of Brodgar], and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beltany Beltany]. These, too, display [[evidence]] of [[astronomical]] alignments, both solar and lunar. Stonehenge, for example, is famous for its [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solstice solstice] alignment. Examples of stone circles are also found in the rest of Europe. They are assumed to be of later date than the [[tombs]], straddling the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neolithic Neolithic] and the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bronze_Age Bronze Ages].

==Tombs==

==Tombs==

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 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chamber_tomb chamber tomb], and the term is used to describe the [[structures]] built across Atlantic Europe, the [[Mediterranean]], and neighbouring regions, mostly during the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neolithic Neolithic] period, by Neolithic [[farming]] communities. They differ from the contemporary [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_barrow long barrows] through their structural use of stone.

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 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chamber_tomb chamber tomb], and the term is used to describe the [[structures]] built across Atlantic Europe, the [[Mediterranean]], and neighbouring regions, mostly during the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neolithic Neolithic] period, by Neolithic [[farming]] communities. They differ from the contemporary [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_barrow long barrows] through their structural use of stone.