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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. |
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| 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]. |
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| ==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. |