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Standing stones, orthostats, liths or more commonly, megalith
Megalith

A megalith is a large Rock which has been used to construct a structure or monument, either alone or together with other stones. Megalithic means structures made of such large stones, utilizing an interlocking system without the use of mortar or cement....
s because of their large and cumbersome size, are solitary stones set vertically in the ground and come in many different varieties.






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Ardgroom Sw (v707553)
Callanish Standing Stones 1
Standing stones, orthostats, liths or more commonly, megalith
Megalith

A megalith is a large Rock which has been used to construct a structure or monument, either alone or together with other stones. Megalithic means structures made of such large stones, utilizing an interlocking system without the use of mortar or cement....
s because of their large and cumbersome size, are solitary stones set vertically in the ground and come in many different varieties. Where they appear in groups together, often in a circular, oval, or horseshoe formation, or henge
Henge

A henge is a Prehistory architectural structure. In form, it is a nearly circular or oval-shaped flat area over 20 metres in diameter that is enclosed and delimited by a boundary Earthworks that usually comprises a ditch with an external bank....
. They are sometimes called megalithic monuments. These are sites of ancient religious ceremonies, sometimes containing burial chambers.

Standing stones are usually difficult to date, but, pottery found underneath some in Atlantic Europe
Atlantic Europe

[Image:Atlantic-Europe.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Atlantic EuropeAtlantic Europe is a geography and anthropology term for the western portion of Europe which borders the Atlantic Ocean....
 connects them with the Beaker people; others in the region appear to be earlier or later however.

See also

  • Carnac stones
    Carnac stones

    The Carnac stones are an exceptionally dense collection of megalithic sites around the French village of Carnac, in Brittany, consisting of stone row, dolmens, tumulus and single menhirs....
  • Cromlech
    Cromlech

    Cromlech is a Brythonic word used to describe prehistoric megalithic structures, where crom means "bent" and llech means "flagstone". The term is now virtually obsolete in arch?ology, but remains in use as a colloquial term for two different types of megalithic monument....
  • Cove (standing stones)
    Cove (standing stones)

    Cove is a term used to describe a tightly concentrated group of large standing stones found in Neolithic and Bronze Age England. Coves are square or rectangular in plan and seem to have served as small enclosures within other henge, stone circle or avenue features....
  • Dolmen
    Dolmen

    File:paulnabrone.jpgFile:KilclooneyDolmen1986.jpgA dolmen is a type of single-chamber megalithic tomb, usually consisting of three or more megalith supporting a large flat horizontal capstone ....
  • Henge
    Henge

    A henge is a Prehistory architectural structure. In form, it is a nearly circular or oval-shaped flat area over 20 metres in diameter that is enclosed and delimited by a boundary Earthworks that usually comprises a ditch with an external bank....
  • Menhir
    Menhir

    A menhir is a large upright standing stone. Menhirs may be found singly as monoliths, or as part of a group of similar stones. Their size can vary considerably; but their shape is generally uneven and squared, often tapering towards the top....
  • Orthostat
  • Stone circle
    Stone circle

    A stone circle is an ancient monument. Such a monument is not always precisely circular and often forms an ellipse, or a setting of four stones laid on an arc of a circle....
  • Stone ship
    Stone ship

    The Stone ship was a Germanic burial custom, typical of Scandinavia, built from tightly or loosely fit slabs or stones. Sometimes they are of monumental proportions....