Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: megalithic

Pentre Ifan is the most famous megalithic monument in Wales. It is the remains of a Neolithic portal tomb from around 3500 BC for the communal burial of the dead. It may have been used for a time and then sealed. Originally, the chamber was covered by a mound of stones. However, these stones were removed a long time ago, so the original covering is missing. The enormous capstone, which rests on only three supporting stones, is five metres long and probably weighs over 16 tonnes. Excavations have revealed that the chamber lies in a large oval pit dug into the shallow slope. There were dry stone walls on the sides, covered with a few large slabs. From the remaining traces, the length of the embankment can be estimated at 36 metres. The area of the forecourt was obviously sealed with carefully stacked stones, which then had to be cleared away again for each burial.

Pentre Ifan is the most famous megalithic monument in Wales. It is the remains of a Neolithic portal tomb from around 3500 BC for the communal burial of the dead. It may have been used for a time and then sealed. Originally, the chamber was covered by a mound of stones. However, these stones were removed a long time ago, so the original covering is missing. The enormous capstone, which rests on only three supporting stones, is five metres long and probably weighs over 16 tonnes. Excavations have revealed that the chamber lies in a large oval pit dug into the shallow slope. There were dry stone walls on the sides, covered with a few large slabs. From the remaining traces, the length of the embankment can be estimated at 36 metres. The area of the forecourt was obviously sealed with carefully stacked stones, which then had to be cleared away again for each burial.

Pentre Ifan is the most famous megalithic monument in Wales. It is the remains of a Neolithic portal tomb from around 3500 BC for the communal burial of the dead. It may have been used for a time and then sealed. Originally, the chamber was covered by a mound of stones. However, these stones were removed a long time ago, so the original covering is missing. The enormous capstone, which rests on only three supporting stones, is five metres long and probably weighs over 16 tonnes. Excavations have revealed that the chamber lies in a large oval pit dug into the shallow slope. There were dry stone walls on the sides, covered with a few large slabs. From the remaining traces, the length of the embankment can be estimated at 36 metres. The area of the forecourt was obviously sealed with carefully stacked stones, which then had to be cleared away again for each burial.

The Almendres Cromlech is the largest existing group of structured menhirs in the Iberian Peninsula. The construction of these structures dates back to the 6th millennium BC. They were rediscovered in 1966. The excavation of the site unearthed a series of both megalithic and neolithic construction phases; Almendres I 6000 BC, Almendres II 5000 BC, and Almendres III 4000 BC. It is believed that the monument either had a religious/ceremonial purpose or functioned as a primitive astronomical observatory. The stone circle, which is made up of around 100 one to three-meter-high stones made from various types of rock and some of which were transported from far away, now consists of a double stone oval facing west-east in the shape of an “8”. Stonehenge, used from 3000 BC., is about 3000 years younger.

The Almendres Cromlech is the largest existing group of structured menhirs in the Iberian Peninsula. The construction of these structures dates back to the 6th millennium BC. They were rediscovered in 1966. The excavation of the site unearthed a series of both megalithic and neolithic construction phases; Almendres I 6000 BC, Almendres II 5000 BC, and Almendres III 4000 BC. It is believed that the monument either had a religious/ceremonial purpose or functioned as a primitive astronomical observatory. The stone circle, which is made up of around 100 one to three-meter-high stones made from various types of rock and some of which were transported from far away, now consists of a double stone oval facing west-east in the shape of an “8”. Stonehenge, used from 3000 BC., is about 3000 years younger.

The Almendres Cromlech is the largest existing group of structured menhirs in the Iberian Peninsula. The construction of these structures dates back to the 6th millennium BC. They were rediscovered in 1966. The excavation of the site unearthed a series of both megalithic and neolithic construction phases; Almendres I 6000 BC, Almendres II 5000 BC, and Almendres III 4000 BC. It is believed that the monument either had a religious/ceremonial purpose or functioned as a primitive astronomical observatory. The stone circle, which is made up of around 100 one to three-meter-high stones made from various types of rock and some of which were transported from far away, now consists of a double stone oval facing west-east in the shape of an “8”. Stonehenge, used from 3000 BC., is about 3000 years younger.

The Almendres Cromlech is the largest existing group of structured menhirs in the Iberian Peninsula. The construction of these structures dates back to the 6th millennium BC. They were rediscovered in 1966. The excavation of the site unearthed a series of both megalithic and neolithic construction phases; Almendres I 6000 BC, Almendres II 5000 BC, and Almendres III 4000 BC. It is believed that the monument either had a religious/ceremonial purpose or functioned as a primitive astronomical observatory. The stone circle, which is made up of around 100 one to three-meter-high stones made from various types of rock and some of which were transported from far away, now consists of a double stone oval facing west-east in the shape of an “8”. Stonehenge, used from 3000 BC., is about 3000 years younger.