Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology (426 page)
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megalith
[Ar].
[Ar].
Literally, a big stone. Often applied as a general term to monuments of Neolithic and early Bronze Age date in northwest Europe which incorporate such stones into their construction: for example, chambered tombs, stone circles, and alignments as well as individual standing stones or menhirs. Also used as an abbreviated form of megalithic tomb.
megalithic architecture
[De].
[De].
A rather obsolete term once applied to the design of Neolithic long barrows, other types of chambered tombs, and related monuments that utilized megaliths in their construction. As variations in the form of the structures have been recognized and explored, less attention has been given to the techniques used in their construction.
megalithic art
[Ge].
[Ge].
General term for the styles of
ROCK ART
found on component stones of
PASSAGE GRAVES
and
DEVELOPED PASSAGE GRAVES
in northwest Europe, especially northern Spain, Brittany, Ireland, Wales, England, and Scotland. Some of the stones were decorated while part of the tomb, but others were clearly decorated prior to being used during the construction of the monument. Typical motifs include: spirals, lozenges, zig-zags, concentric circles, axe motifs, oxen, human breasts, and crook symbols.
ROCK ART
found on component stones of
PASSAGE GRAVES
and
DEVELOPED PASSAGE GRAVES
in northwest Europe, especially northern Spain, Brittany, Ireland, Wales, England, and Scotland. Some of the stones were decorated while part of the tomb, but others were clearly decorated prior to being used during the construction of the monument. Typical motifs include: spirals, lozenges, zig-zags, concentric circles, axe motifs, oxen, human breasts, and crook symbols.
megalithic tomb
[MC].
[MC].
A general term applied to chambered tombs in which massive blocks of stone (see
MEGALITH
) were used to create the walls and roof of passages and chambers. The term is often used generically for all kinds of stone-built chambered tombs, or loosely when the exact type of tomb is not known.
LONG BARROW
,
PASSAGE GRAVE
,
PORTAL DOLMEN
.
MEGALITH
) were used to create the walls and roof of passages and chambers. The term is often used generically for all kinds of stone-built chambered tombs, or loosely when the exact type of tomb is not known.
LONG BARROW
,
PASSAGE GRAVE
,
PORTAL DOLMEN
.
megalithic yard
[Ge].
[Ge].
A unit of measurement proposed by Professor Alexander Thom in 1962 as being the yardstick used in setting out
STONE CIRCLES
and other similar structures characteristic of the later Neolithic and early Bronze Age in northwest Europe. Equal to 0.829m or 2.72 feet, Thom deduced the existence of a standard measure from the systematic metrical analysis of over 40 stones circles. While it is generally accepted that some standard measurement was used in the construction of stone circles, few agree that such a specific standard measurement could have been adopted throughout Atlantic Europe.
STONE CIRCLES
and other similar structures characteristic of the later Neolithic and early Bronze Age in northwest Europe. Equal to 0.829m or 2.72 feet, Thom deduced the existence of a standard measure from the systematic metrical analysis of over 40 stones circles. While it is generally accepted that some standard measurement was used in the construction of stone circles, few agree that such a specific standard measurement could have been adopted throughout Atlantic Europe.
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