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The word 'megalith' comes from the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_language Ancient Greek] μέγας megas meaning great, and λίθος lithos meaning stone. Megalith also denotes an item consisting of rock(s) hewn in definite shapes for special [[purposes]]. 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 [[Tomb|sepulchral]]. The construction of these [[structures]] took place mainly in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neolithic Neolithic] (though earlier [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesolithic Mesolithic] examples are known) and continued into the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chalcolithic Chalcolithic] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bronze_Age Bronze Age].

The word 'megalith' comes from the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_language Ancient Greek] μέγας megas meaning great, and λίθος lithos meaning stone. Megalith also denotes an item consisting of rock(s) hewn in definite shapes for special [[purposes]]. 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 [[Tomb|sepulchral]]. The construction of these [[structures]] took place mainly in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neolithic Neolithic] (though earlier [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesolithic Mesolithic] examples are known) and continued into the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chalcolithic Chalcolithic] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bronze_Age Bronze Age].

==Early stone complexes in eastern Turkey==

==Early stone complexes in eastern Turkey==

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.