megalithic

Megalithic refers to monuments and structures built from large, uncut or roughly shaped stones, usually without the use of mortar. The term covers a broad range of prehistoric monuments and the cultures that produced them, spanning multiple regions and time periods. Megalithic sites are most commonly associated with the late Neolithic and early Bronze Age, though the practice appears in various forms in different places and eras.

The principal megalithic forms include dolmens, which are tomb chambers created by upright stones supporting a capstone; menhirs, tall standing stones set upright in the ground; cromlechs and stone circles, arrangements of large stones often interpreted as ceremonial or astronomical sites; and passage or gallery graves, which combine tomb chambers with long passageways. Megalithic architecture frequently features deliberate alignments to solar or lunar events and may serve funerary, ritual, territorial, or social purposes. Construction would have required coordinated labor, with techniques proposed for moving and placing stones ranging from ramps and rollers to levers.

Geographically, megalithic traditions appear in Europe, Africa, the Near East, and parts of Asia and the Americas, with regional variations in style and function. In Europe, notable examples include Stonehenge and the Carnac alignments, while Malta preserves the Megalithic Temples, some of the oldest free-standing structures. The study of megaliths encompasses dating, construction methods, ritual use, and social organization, contributing to broader understandings of prehistoric societies. Many megalithic sites are protected as cultural heritage and continue to be explored by archaeologists.