Megalithic Research Articles

Memorial monuments of early and medieval nomads of the archaeological complex Kokentau

The article presents the results of field research and interpretation of materials from memorial complexes of ancient and medieval nomads of Kokentau archaeological microregion. The monument is located in the Zhana Semey district of the Abai region. The authors are conducting work in this archaeological microregion to identify, systematize, study, and introduce memorial sites into scientific circulation. The proposed article is one of the first attempts to introduce into scientific circulation memorial sites of the early Saka and ancient Turkic periods. The first evidence of the utilization of sacred space in the Kokentau mountain range begins in the Neolithic period. Ancient people began to erect burial-memorial structures to perpetuate the memory of their deceased compatriots, where various memorial rituals were conducted. The main component of the memorial tradition is the burial mound, but also included are fences, megalithic structures, and stone sculptures. The authors of the article, based on the materials of the Kokentau mountain range, demonstrate how changes in society's religious worldview influenced the architectural layout of memorial sites and rituals. The chronological framework of the "eight-stone" structures was determined based on comparative and radiocarbon analysis. Comparative analysis methods with similar objects from the Semirechye and Sayan-Altai regions were used to determine the time of construction of the ancient Turkic fence.

СИСТЕМА МІР ВАГИ ВЕЛИКОБРИТАНІЇ, КРАЇН ПІВНІЧНОЇ АМЕРИКИ І ОКЕАНІЇ

The territory of the islands of Britain and Ireland was inhabited by people in prehistoric times. Numerous megalithic monuments remain from this culture. In the first millennium BC, Celtic tribes moved there from continental Europe, who later mixed with the local population. The maritime trade of the ancient civilisations of the Mediterranean with the population of the British Isles is reported by some historical sources of the antiquity. This trade was conducted by exchanging goods for goods. There is no information in historical sources about the measures, in particular weights, used by the ancient population of the British Isles in production and trade. In the first century BC, the Romans conquered the territory of Britain. They established their own system of measures, including weights, and their own monetary system. After the fall of the Roman Empire in the V century, Germanic tribes such as the Angles, Saxons, and Utes invaded Britain. At first, they created several kingdoms here, and in the IX century, they united into a single Anglo-Saxon state. It was during the Anglo-Saxon period from the V to the XI centuries that the foundations of the modern British System of Measures and Monetary System were laid. In the formation of the British weight system, units of weight measures of the Celts, Romans and Germans were used. Norms of weight measures were approved in the laws of the Anglo-Saxon kings of the X–XI centuries, which have survived to this day. The conquest of Britain in 1066 by the Norman Duke William did not make changes to the system of weight measures used here. Over the centuries, from time to time, for the purpose of improvement, royal decrees and laws amended these measures. The transformation of the weight measurement system for a thousand years can be studied precisely by analysing the materials of English legislation. In the XVI–XX centuries, Great Britain became a colonial power, whose possessions covered vast territories in the North America, Africa, Asia and Oceania. Here, the colonial administration introduced the British system of weight measures, but the local population used their own measures along with the British ones. After the gradual disintegration of the British colonial empire, some new states that were formed on the site of its former possessions – the USA, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand – continued to use British standards of weight measures. The British system of weight measurements is made public in the USA. Nowadays, the British system of weight measures, along with the metric, is officially considered the state in the United Kingdom.

THREATS OF BIOCORROSION MOSS AND RIVER EROSION ON MEGALITHIC SITES IN LONG PASIA, BORNEO: A CASE STUDY OF PETROGLYPH NARID UPAI SEMARING

During ancient times, megalithic sites generally functioned for religious purposes, astronomy, burial monuments, symbols of a man’s strength, and markers for land boundaries. Nowadays, megalithic sites have the potential to be used as locations for cultural and heritage tourism, particularly archaeology tourism. This indirectly shows that a megalithic structure is something of great value, especially from economic, historical, and cultural perspectives. Its existence is relevant is always relevant. Therefore, the originality of a megalithic monument’s structure must be maintained and preserved from any threats of damage and destruction. Unfortunately, a megalithic structure often faces various threats of damage and destruction, be it naturally or from human activities. Hence, this study aims to examine the threat of natural damage through the process of biocorrosion river erosion on megalithic sites in Long Pasia, Borneo, focusing on the case study of petroglyph Narid Upai Semaring. Other than that, this study also suggests mitigation approaches that can be applied to overcome the threats. Insights from the observational data (photo documentation) through a series of field studies were used as evidence to explain the phenomenon under investigation. This research provides an in-depth insight into how the reaction between the natural environment (moss and river flow) and megalithic sites could change the physical structure of the site. The research finding not only contributes to our understanding of the damage mechanism to ancient artifacts, but it also has crucial implications for the protection, preservation, and management of historic sites in areas that are exposed to the process of biocorrosion and river erosion. The finding is expected to help plan proper preservation and conservation actions for megalithic sites particularly in Long Pasia and generally in Malaysia.

傳記的 관점에서의 지석묘 상석

Dolmen capstones in the Bronze Age remained on the ground even in later times and existed in people's consciousness, forming their own biography as part of the landscape. During the Bronze Age, the so-called Altar dolmens were a symbolic megalith as a place of ritual. Even in ancient times, megaliths such as dolmen capstones were used as objects of faith. In the case of the Goryeo Dynasty, it can be seen from the literature records that dolmens were considered sacred objects. On the other hand, in the case of the Joseon Dynasty, cases used for folk beliefs in various ruins have been confirmed, and it is still used as a place of faith in various parts of the country and is designated as a monument by local governments. Therefore, dolmen capstones are archaeological materials with ritual continuity from prehistoric times to modern society. And many stories have been told in dolmen capstones since ancient times. Among them, ‘Mago Grandmother’ often appears as the main character of the story of giants related to shrines, fortresses, and rocks as well as dolmens. Mago, who appears in ancient literature, was a young fairy admired by the intellectuals, and since the late Joseon Dynasty, she has changed her appearance to a female giant who is friendly to the common people. The appearance of a female god deeply penetrating the folk beliefs of the common people has continued from the late Joseon Dynasty to the present through dolmen capstones. In addition, dolmen capstones next to the ancestors' tombs were not just rocks, but were considered a sacred symbol protecting the family, so they should not be damaged or moved recklessly. As such, megaliths installed in the prehistoric times had a very deep relationship with the lives of later people. Dolmen capstones, the object and place of rituals, have continued to serve as social and personal medium of memory throughout various periods to the present. While rituals for megalithic monuments in the Bronze Age were collective events led by the ruling class, since the Middle Ages, they have often been held at the level of personal wishes along with village rituals. The tendency of weakening collectivity and strengthening individuality in the megalithic faith will continue beyond modern society to future society.

Megalithic tradition associated with agricultural ritual

The Tiwa community is one of the autochthonous communities of Northeast India. An important aspect of Tiwa culture is the erection of stone monuments during the celebration of Chongkhong Phuja. This ceremony is performed before the commencement of their yearly agricultural cycle which falls in late April and continues to early May. On this occasion, a menhir and table stone are erected by the head priest of the Tiwa village, who then invokes their village guardian deity to call for a better harvest as well as for the wellbeing of the villagers. This elaborate ceremony marks the beginning of the agricultural season for the year, following which the villagers commence their agricultural activities. This paper deals with the performance of Chongkhong Phuja and the associated living megalithic tradition among the Hill Tiwas residing in the Umswai Valley. It also documents the oral traditions associated with the origin of the megalithic tradition in the community. As most of the living megalithic traditions among the ethnic communities of Northeast India are either related to burial practices or commemorating the death of a person or an event, this Chongkhong Phuja represents a unique example of a megalithic tradition related to agricultural practice. Indirect evidence suggests the megalithic structures present at the ceremonial place of the Chongkhong Phuja in the Amsai village of the Umswai Valley have been continuously erected for the last thousand years. The paper also hypothesizes the shifting cultivation in the area to be as old as the practice of the megalithic tradition.

In Search of Human Remains in the Layers of a Passage Tomb: The Combination of ICP-MS, Fluorescence (XRF) and SEM Methods at the Cobertoria Dolmen (Salas, Asturias, Spain)

This paper summarises the results of the first analytical investigation of the soil chemistry of Asturian Megalithism, an approach which is essential, due to the scarcity of materials conserved in the burial areas. The combination of three analytical techniques enabled this study of the soils from the Cobertoria dolmen (Salas, Spain), a megalithic monument dated at around 3500 BC. The text describes the techniques and results of the analyses made on the corridor, and their relationship with their archaeological contexts. The peaks of some elements closely correspond with the geology of the site while others, especially the phosphorous components, are not common in the natural soils of this area. XRF and ICP-MS analysis showed peaks of this element indicating phosphorus concentrations that cannot be understood without the anthropogenic influence of the use of the corridor. The decomposition of bodies or the organic elements buried here is the most probable reason for these high peaks.

STONES CALLANISH – ARKAIM – TRANSIT

The article is based on a comparative analysis of the perception of the landscape of Arkaim and the megalithic complexes of Scotland. The authors’ analysis is based on personal observations in these places.

Megalithic Culture In Suboh Sub District Situbondo Regency

The megalithic culture in Suboh District, Situbondo Regency has its own uniqueness, namely the mortar stones, where the mortar stones in Suboh District have holes around the main hole, where the holes function to place crushed grain and there are also many archaeological remains that have not been recorded. The aim of this research is to add to the inventory of archaeological remains, social, economic and cultural systems. The type of research is qualitative research. The research methods are: (1) heuristics, (2) criticism, (3) interpretation, (4) historiography. Based on the research results, the typology of archaeological remains in Suboh District consists of three types, namely sarcophagi, stone mortars and stone monoliths with a hollow stone type. Community supporters of megalithic culture in Suboh District already know the concept of belief in the spirits of ancestors (acestor-worship). Social, economic and cultural life has recognized an egalitarian agricultural system.
 Keywords: Culture, Suboh, Megalithic

The provenance of the stones in the Menga dolmen reveals one of the greatest engineering feats of the Neolithic

The technical and intellectual capabilities of past societies are reflected in the monuments they were able to build. Tracking the provenance of the stones utilised to build prehistoric megalithic monuments, through geological studies, is of utmost interest for interpreting ancient architectures as well as to contribute to their protection. According to the scarce information available, most stones used in European prehistoric megaliths originate from locations near the construction sites, which would have made transport easier. The Menga dolmen (Antequera, Malaga, Spain), listed in UNESCO World Heritage since July 2016, was designed and built with stones weighting up to nearly 150 tons, thus becoming the most colossal stone monument built in its time in Europe (c. 3800–3600 BC). Our study (based on high-resolution geological mapping as well as petrographic and stratigraphic analyses) reveals key geological and archaeological evidence to establish the precise provenance of the massive stones used in the construction of this monument. These stones are mostly calcarenites, a poorly cemented detrital sedimentary rock comparable to those known as 'soft stones' in modern civil engineering. They were quarried from a rocky outcrop located at a distance of approximately 1 km. In this study, it can be inferred the use of soft stone in Menga reveals the human application of new wood and stone technologies enabling the construction of a monument of unprecedented magnitude and complexity.

Miejsca i przestrzenie indonezyjskiego teatru śmierci

Places and spaces of the Indonesian theater of death The subject of the article are the thanatic practices of indigenous Indonesian peoples viewed from the perspective of places and spaces associated with the dead and the spirits of ancestors. The author points out that human refusal to die, creating the need to create substitute places of presence for those who no longer exist, is marked by „genetic” theatricality and that Indonesia is a particularly interesting area to study this phenomenon. The theoretical basis of the article are the reflections of Samuel Weber on the ghostly nature of theatrical space and of Mirosław Kocur on the performative space that both produces performances and is produced by performances. From this perspective, the author looks at specific burial places, ideas about the afterlife, and manifestations of the cult of ancestors in various regions of Indonesia. She analyzes ritual strategies of creating the illusion of the immaterial presence of deities and spirits of the dead, as well as ways of inscribing the image of the afterlife and the dead themselves into the existing, natural space and into the space of the immediate surroundings: home and village. Following this line of thought, she finally focuses on the special symbolic qualities of stone as a material used to mark places where the dead and spirits are present. In this respect, Indonesia creates a unique field for research, because in some of its regions the traditions of megalithic cultures are still

The Big Circles in Jordan: First absolute ages using rock luminescence surface dating

AbstractIn this study, we provide the first absolute ages for a Big Circle megalithic structure in Jordan, using rock surface luminescence dating of the buried surface of rocks collected from circle J4 in southern Jordan. Five rocks were used for this study. All rocks showed evidence of previous daylight exposure before being used in the construction of the circle. The exposure was sufficient to bleach the latent luminescence signal to a negligible level compared to the subsequent burial dose. Three rocks gave indistinguishable ages, and were last exposed to daylight in 1500 ± 100 BCE; this is very likely to be the date of circle construction. Two others gave younger ages, indicating later disturbance or reworking. These new results provide very strong evidence for construction during the Late Bronze Age, and refute the earlier hypothesis of construction during Umayyad period (661–750 CE) as a hunting trap.

Рельефный гранитный блок из мегалитического комплекса Таскамал в Бурабае

In 2022, the study of the unique archaeological site Taskamal in the mountain forest of Burabay, located in the Burabay district of the Akmola region of the Republic of Kazakhstan, started. The monument is a complex construction, composed of two megalithic structures in the form of long walls, a bulk open terrace with two ramps, additional structures in the form of masonry and stone stelae — koitas. It also includes a quarry and a workshop. The Taskamal complex structure was built on a natural ridge covered with pine forest, located between two swampy areas. On the plan, it has a shape of a zigzag with almost right angles from three main linear sections. On the natural ridge with rocky outcrops, there are traces of human activity — masonry,hewn steps. Judging by the available analogies and its individual architectural elements, the monument can be dated from the Neolithic to the Late Bronze Age. Among the masonry of the western wall, under an open terrace, a carved image of a cow or a bull was found. It is made on a flattened granite slab, which is placed on the rock foundation of the wall, and is technically part of the masonry. Several main details by which the animal can be identified are well preserved — the body, head and hind leg. The relief has no direct analogies in the archaeological monuments of Kazakhstan and Central Asia. Indirect analogies allow us to preliminarily attribute the time of its creation to the 3rd millennium BC

Analysis and Precision of Light Detection and Ranging Sensors Integrated in Mobile Phones as a Framework for Registration of Ground Control Points for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in the Scanning Technique for Building Information Modelling in Archaeological Sites

The protection of heritage sites is one of the keys that our civilisation presents. That is why great efforts have been invested in order to protect and preserve movable and immovable property with a certain historical value, as is the case of archaeological sites scattered throughout the territory of southern Iberia (Spain) in the form of dolmens and negative structures dug into the ground, constituting a good sample of the megalithic culture in southern Spain. To study, manage and preserve these archaeological monuments, considered a set of cultural assets, various techniques and methodologies are required to facilitate the acquisition of three-dimensional geometric information. The Scan-to-BIM approach has become one of the most up-to-date work exponents to carry out these objectives. The appearance of LiDAR techniques, and recently their incorporation into smartphones through integrated sensors, is revolutionising the world of 3D scanning. However, the precision of these techniques is an issue that has yet to be addressed in the scientific community. That is why this research proposes a framework, through experimental measurement, comparison and knowledge of the limitations of this technology, to know the precision of the use of these smartphones, specifically the iPhone 13 Pro, as a measurement element to establish points of control with the aid of photogrammetry by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in archaeological sites. The results demonstrate a residual uncertainty of ±5 mm in the capture of GCPs from the mobile phone’s LiDAR light detection and ranging sensor, and there was a deviation of the measurements in a range between 0 and 28 m of distance between the GCPs of (0.021, 0.069) m.

Situs Megalitik Tanjung Telang, Kabupaten Lahat: Kajian Bentuk Dan Fungsi.

Abstract
 This article is entitled Megalithic site Tanjung Telang, Lahat Regency: Study of Form and Function. This article aims to examine the from and function at the Tanjung Telang megalithic site, Lahat Regency, South Sumatra Province. This article uses the historical research method (historical method). This article uses the following stages: heuristics, source criticism, interpretation and historiography. The results of the research in this article say that in Lahat Regency there are many thousands of megalithic sites with various unique shapes and different sizes and have a certain meaning for each site found. Lahat Regency has a hilly area and a very fertile area, namely Bukit Selero which was trusted by the people in the past as a reminder that there is still a God above humans so humans must remain humble. Tanjung Telang Village, West Merapi District, Lahat Regency, South Sumatra, Found megalithic cultural relics inthe form of the Tanjung Telang Human Statue, Megalithic Flat Stone and Menhirs. The heritage site in the form of megalithic culture is located with in the environment of West Merapi 2 Junior High School, in the highlands (hills), shrubs, and is located in the community’s coffe garden.

Choosing the site, getting the stones, building the dolmens: local sourcing of andesites at the El Pozuelo megalithic complex (Huelva, Spain)

The geoarchaeological study focuses on the lithological characterization and provenance determination of the rocks of the El Pozuelo dolmens. The difficulty of identifying volcanic rocks in the intensely altered and deformed environment of the Iberian Pyrite Belt has required the implementation of a research methodology combining the archaeological and geological analysis of the megaliths and the area surrounding the Los Llanetes group. A total of 29 thin sections and 14 geochemical analyses (ICP-AES, ICP-MS and REE) have been carried out on samples from the dolmens and potential source areas, focusing on the chemical elements considered immobile during alteration processes. The petrological analyses confirm the identification of different andesite lithotypes and enable us to correlate the rocks used in the construction of the megaliths with source areas and quarries located within a 50–350 m radius. Several patterns are observed in the selection of the rocks, based on the material, visual and symbolic properties of the different lithologies. Foliated andesite is the most common stone used in the monuments, due to its excellent physical properties and technological suitability for extraction and transformation into megalithic supports. Other types of andesite (sheared, massive and amphibole-phyric), white quartz, ferruginous agglomerate and gabbro were also used for different architectural purposes. The results confirm the importance of locally available suitable rocks in determining site location, raw material procurement and monument construction during the Late Neolithic.

Multi-Analytical Techniques to Define the Mineralogical and Petrophysical Characteristics and Provenance of Siliceous Lithic Findings: The Case Study of La Calvera Rock Shelter (Cantabria, Spain)

This archaeometric study aims at characterizing the archaeological finds belonging to the lithic industry from La Calvera rock shelter (Camaleño, Cantabria) and at hypothesizing the possible provenance of each material. The site, located in the mountainous area of Picos de Europa National Park (more than 1000 m a.s.l.) close to the megalithic complex of Peña Oviedo, is characterized by the presence of hearths and charcoal remains, ancient pottery, and a rich lithic assemblage composed of siliceous rocks dating back to >8000 BP and linked to the first Holocene occupations of the Cantabrian Mountains. For the study of the rock shelter’s lithic assemblage, a multi-analytical approach was used: SEM-EDS and XRD analyses were performed to define the microtextural characteristics of samples and to identify the amorphous/crystalline phases; physical and mechanical tests were conducted to define the petrophysical properties (density, porosity, imbibition and saturation indexes, mechanical strength) of the samples. Preliminary data of chemical compositions, obtained by portable XRF, are also presented. The results show that the different siliceous materials (quartzite, cherts, hyaline quartz) can be distinguished through the basic analytical techniques used here. In addition, most of the archaeological samples have mineralogical and petrographic features similar to the natural samples coming from nearby outcrops, corroborating the hypothesis of a local material supply. The presence of local sources of useful raw materials could have favoured the site’s occupation. Finally, the diverse compositional and textural feature of the analysed materials result in different mechanical properties (porosity, density, hardness, workability), so they likely had different uses and technical functions.

Who venerated the ancestors at the Petit-Chasseur site? Examining Early Bronze Age cultic activities around megalithic monuments through the archaeometric analyses of ceramic findings (Upper Rhône Valley, Switzerland, 2200–1600 BC)

Through the analyses of recovered pottery, this study explores the social dimension of an ancestor cult developed at the Petit-Chasseur megalithic necropolis (Upper Rhône Valley, Switzerland) during the Early Bronze Age (2200–1600 BC). The jar votive offerings and domestic pottery from settlement sites were characterized using a range of spectroscopic and microscopic techniques. Acquired archaeometric data allowed identification of six ceramic fabrics and two types of clay substrate—illite- and muscovite-based—which were used in pottery production. The present article discusses the pottery composition in the light of natural resources available in the region, thus shedding light on raw material choices and paste preparation recipes. The Early Bronze Age people that lived in the Upper Rhône Valley seem to have shared a common ceramic tradition, partly inherited from the previous Bell Beaker populations. The compositional correspondence between the jar offerings and domestic pottery revealed that the majority of the known Early Bronze Age groups partook in cultic activities at the Petit-Chasseur megalithic necropolis.

GABALA MOUNDS IN THE CONTEXT OF RELATIONSHIPS THE EARLY BRONZE ERA IN THE CAUCASUS

One of the main problems of investigating the Kura-Araxes cultural and historical community is to identify its local variants in the South Caucasus. At the same time, the interaction of the bearers of this community with the population of other regions also influenced the formation of these local variants. From this viewpoint, the results of investigations of the monuments in Gabala district, located in the northern region of Azerbaijan, are interesting. Archaeological monuments belonging to different periods have been discovered in the territory of the district. A certain group is made up of kurgans dating to the Early Bronze Age. In the structure of the excavated kurgans and burial rites, depending on the chronological stage, various and common features were revealed. In the village of Amili of the Gabala district, three Early Bronze Age kurgans were studied. The complex structure of these kurgans draws attention. At the same time, a dolmen-shaped megalithic structure discovered in one of them attracts attention with its uniqueness. It is interestingly, the large stones with which this structure was built are made in the form of anthropomorphic idols. Lines of various sizes were carved on them. The crescent-shaped structures built in kurgans are also of interest. The group of ceramics has the property of “making hands stained” if you touch it, hands get stained. Such pottery is not typical for the Kura-Araxes community. The structure of the kurgans and the technological indicators of ceramics show that in the 4th-3rd millennia BC there were close ties between the northern regions of Azerbaijan and the North Caucasus.

GABALA MOUNDS IN THE CONTEXT OF RELATIONSHIPS THE EARLY BRONZE ERA IN THE CAUCASUS

One of the main problems of investigating the Kura-Araxes cultural and historical community is to identify its local variants in the South Caucasus. At the same time, the interaction of the bearers of this community with the population of other regions also influenced the formation of these local variants. From this viewpoint, the results of investigations of the monuments in Gabala district, located in the northern region of Azerbaijan, are interesting. Archaeological monuments belonging to different periods have been discovered in the territory of the district. A certain group is made up of kurgans dating to the Early Bronze Age. In the structure of the excavated kurgans and burial rites, depending on the chronological stage, various and common features were revealed. In the village of Amili of the Gabala district, three Early Bronze Age kurgans were studied. The complex structure of these kurgans draws attention. At the same time, a dolmen-shaped megalithic structure discovered in one of them attracts attention with its uniqueness. It is interestingly, the large stones with which this structure was built are made in the form of anthropomorphic idols. Lines of various sizes were carved on them. The crescent-shaped structures built in kurgans are also of interest. The group of ceramics has the property of “making hands stained” if you touch it, hands get stained. Such pottery is not typical for the Kura-Araxes community. The structure of the kurgans and the technological indicators of ceramics show that in the 4th-3rd millennia BC there were close ties between the northern regions of Azerbaijan and the North Caucasus.

Petroleum potential of Achimov deposits in the north of Western Siberia

Western Siberia has oil and gas potential that is very important for the development of the oil and gas industry in Russia. The north of Western Siberia has special significance for the industry, that's where the maximum aggregate deposit of hydrocarbon reserves is located in fields, such as Urengoy, Yamburgskoye and Medvezhye. Over the last decade, a tendency to reduce the efficiency of geological exploration has appeared, therefore, it is necessary to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the actual material and to select priority areas. The Lower Cretaceous complex of the Cretaceous oil and gas megalithic complex located in the north of Western Siberia is the most lucrative. The Neocomian clinoform Achimov deposits of this complex are the main object of study. Achimov deposits are trapped almost throughout the Nadym-Pur interfluve area and are having a complex structure. The formation of Achimov rocks mostly took place in the deep-water part of the paleosea that affected their heterogeneity. An analysis of the geological and field parameters of the Achimov deposits determined the maximum aggregate of hydrocarbon deposits in the eastern and northern parts of the study area, as well as zones of active rifting. Geological exploration should be carried out in such zones initially.