Megaliths
Megaliths are large stones used in Neolithic and Bronze Age monuments. Megalithic monuments are found around the world, but especially in western Europe. Varieties of megaliths include menhirs (standing stones), alignments (rows of menhirs), dolmens (standing stones topped with a flat stone), barrows (dolmens covered with earth), and henges or cromlechs (stone circles). Since they are prehistoric, it has been difficult to determine the purpose of these fascinating monuments. However, some were clearly used for burials and others are astronomically aligned. Below is an illustrated index of the 10 Megaliths profiled on Sacred Destinations so far. For photo credits, please see corresponding articles.
Boasting a spectacular hillside location among olive and cork trees, this stone circle is the most important megalithic site in Portugal. Its 96 standing stones were arranged in an oval in 5000-4000 BC.
This single standing stone is 3 meters high and astronomically aligned with the nearby Almendres Cromlech.
This prehistoric dolmen dates from c.4000-3500 BC. It is the largest dolmen in Europe.
This atmospheric site on the Isle of Lewis dates from 2900-2600 BC. It consists of a large stone circle surrounding a burial chamber, with four avenues of stones forming a cross shape.
Located in a village in Brittany, northwestern France, the Carnac Stones are a huge system of more than 3,000 prehistoric standing stones erected between 4500 and 2000 BC.
This remote island in the South Pacific is home to the famously intriguing moai statues, which were carved by Polynesian settlers between about 400 and 1500 AD.
A Pre-Inca site despite its popular name, this trilithic gate perched on the hillside is surrounded by pierced rocks that permit the sun's rays to shine onto the lintel during the solstices.
Dating from between 3000 and 2000 BC, Stonehenge is a circle of massive megaliths weigh many tons, fit together perfectly, and are astronomically aligned.
This ancient city was the capital of a powerful pre-Inca civilization that dominated the Andean region between 500 and 900 AD. Its monumental remains include several temples, a pyramid, symbolic gates, monoliths and carvings.
This prehistoric burial site near Avebury was in use between 3700 and 2000 BC. Visitors can enter the barrow, which contains five atmospheric ancient chambers.
