Dolmens and Megaliths

A megalith is a large stone used, alone or with others, to build a prehistoric structure or monument. Such monuments were erected across many parts of the world, with a great concentration in western Europe, and most European examples date from the Neolithic period and the Bronze Age. Because they were built before writing, their precise purposes are reconstructed from archaeology, and they appear to have served as tombs, ceremonial sites, and markers in the landscape.

A dolmen is a type of megalithic tomb consisting of several upright stones supporting a large flat capstone, forming a chamber. Many dolmens were originally covered by a mound of earth or smaller stones that has since eroded away, leaving the bare stone skeleton visible today. A menhir, by contrast, is a single tall stone set upright in the ground, which may stand alone or be arranged with others. Long rows of standing stones, such as those at Carnac in Brittany, and circular settings of stones are further forms of megalithic construction.

The stone circle is among the best-known megalithic forms, and Stonehenge in England is the most famous example, combining standing stones with horizontal lintels. Other related earthworks and burial monuments include cairns, which are stone mounds, and barrows, which are earthen mounds raised over graves. Moving and raising stones weighing many tonnes without machinery was a substantial feat of organisation, and the alignment of some monuments with the sun at the solstices suggests an interest in tracking the seasons.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a dolmen and a menhir?

A dolmen is a chambered tomb made of upright stones topped by a capstone, while a menhir is a single tall stone set upright in the ground, standing alone or in a group.

What were dolmens used for?

Dolmens were burial monuments. Many were originally enclosed within a mound of earth or stones, now often eroded away, that covered the stone chamber holding human remains.

When were megaliths built?

Most European megaliths were raised during the Neolithic period and the Bronze Age, thousands of years before written records, which is why their builders' intentions are inferred from archaeology.