The location and orientation of megalithic monuments has been chosen very carefully by their builders. The orientation towards celestial constellations has been subject of many discussions and interpretations (see Archaeoastronomy). However, monuments were placed so that they correspond to other features either in the landscape or other man made structures. They present visible landmarks embedded in a spatial context forming megalithic landscapes.
Pottery is one of the most often found archaeological item from the Neolithic. More or less complete pieces are found. However, there are many finds of sherds from pottery that seem to be deliberately destroyed. Many seem associated with ritual activities around entrances of Megalithic monuments. Locations Sherd depositions are reported from a number sites …
The term dolmen from the Breton words taol for table and maen for stone was initially used for the horizontal cover stones of chambered megalithic monuments and from late 18th and the 19th was used in France to describe two or more uprights with at least one cover stone. Although many national and regional names …
Archaeologists have named the Neolithic communities funnel beaker culture after the characteristic type of beaker pottery created by that people. The top of the beakers is formed like a funnel. The so called Funnel beaker culture, short TRB from (German) Trichterbecherkultur (ca 4000 BC–2700 BC) covered big parts of the North of Europe. The TRB …
Long barrows are earthen tumuli and were erected in many regions of Northern Europe. The oldest can be found in Brittany, France. Further, they appear in Southern France, England, Scotland, Germany, South-Scandinavia and Poland. Alternative names include combinations of Long, non-megalithic, un-chambered or earthen AND mound, grave or monument. E.g. un-chambered mount or earthen barrow, …
Locmariaquer Site The site of the megaliths (french Site des mégalithes de Locmariaquer) is the home of three remarkable monuments: The Table des Marchands – a passage monument, the Er-Grah tumulus, and the broken Grand Menhir Brisé are in close vicinity. Excavations on the site have revealed 18(19) holes in a line [1]. They were …
The cyclic nature of seasons cause a cycle in the temperate climate zone of Northern Europe. The vegetation undergoes a life cycle: after winter time the spring brings new life, vegetation flourishes and climaxes in summer and then starting to decline again in autumn and rests in winter, to then start over in spring. This …
This passage tomb in Locmariaquer, Brittany (Carnac area) is known under various other names: Mané Rutuel, Mané Rethuel, Mané Ruthuel and Bé-er-Groah, which means ‘the tomb of the witch’. The monument is very well-known for its decorated stones and giant capstone. It has been examined a number of times. It was dug into in Roman …
Described from finds in Breton megalithic art this symbol is named yoke in literature (e.g. [1]). Locations This symbol can be found in a number of passage tombs in Brittany. A fine example can be found in the passage tomb of the Mané Lud mound in Locmariaquer with eleven ‘yokes’ on one orthostat. Interpretation The …
Elizabeth Shee Twohig has coined the term Megalithic art in her study of ‘The Megalithic Art of Western Europe’ [1]. Her original definition of Megalithic art focussed on paintings or carvings found on the structural elements, like the kerbstones, orthostats, or capstones of megalithic tombs, but recent investigations have included decorations on Stelae and Menhirs. …