British megalith architecture

The palette of megalithic architecture on the British Isles

British megalith architecture is the

megalithic sites on the British Isles

, including the research and documentation of these sites. The classification sometimes used of these cultures based on geological criteria is problematic.

The

Medway tombs and the Derbyshire chamber tombs (Five Wells

) occupy a special position as examples of megalithic sites in East England. The north–south boundary between earthen sites and stone sites in England and Scotland is crossed at three points to the east by the seven different types of megalith site types (in the so-called mixed regions).

The activities of megalithic cultures in the region dates back to

Ireland and the now British regions of Cornwall (including the Isles of Scilly), the Isle of Man, Wales and Scotland; but there are somewhat greater differences between those and the sites in England and, particularly, the Channel Islands. Although almost all regions have endemic megalith types, but they also usually have unique examples (e.g. the chamber tomb of Glyn

) as well as forms that they share with one or two neighbouring regions.

Exemplary in this respect are the "cruciform passage" sites of the

Maes Howe type in Orkney (in Ireland e.g. Knowth and Newgrange), whose distribution extends as far as the Scilly Isles and Devonshire

in England. In addition to the great wealth of variety in Scotland, favoured by its geography, there are also sites on the Scottish islands with individual characteristics.

Neolithic monuments are an expression of the culture and ideology of Neolithic societies. Their origin and function are considered characteristic of social development.[1]

Dating

Well dated monuments, such as Street House in North Yorkshire and Hazleton North in Gloucestershire, indicate that the primary period of use, during which there were continual burials, perhaps lasted only two or three centuries. The small number of burials found in the West Kennet Long Barrow in Wiltshire seems to confirm this.

On the other hand, the Middle Neolithic pottery in the trenches of long barrows and the late dates of the hearths (Herde) on the forecourts of megalithic sites such as

Tulach an t'Sionnaich in Caithness

leads to the same conclusion.

Primarily in southern England, burial sites were deliberately closed. The time when this occurred is often uncertain. The chamber of the West Kennet Long Barrow seems to have been used for many centuries, but was eventually filled about 2400 B.C. Blocked access is often found in atria, indicating an end to the chamber's use, but the frequent presence of more than one layer indicates that these decisions were not final, making it difficult to determine the exact time when the tomb was finally abandoned. Particularly in Scotland (up to Shetland - Pettigarth's Field), there are a number of multi-period systems (English multi-period building), whereby round mounds had long barrows subsequently built over them (Grey Cairns of Camster) and heel-shaped cairns).

It is not clear whether any new monuments erected after about 3000 B.C. in southern England, although rituals continued to be held in the old ones. In the northwest, the old tradition probably lasted longer. The conversion of a classic

Bell-Beaker culture

and signs of a new attitude in society. In many areas the old ideas end abruptly.

References

^ J. Müller In: Varia neolithica VI 2009 p. 15

Literature

R. Cavendish Prehistoric England 1983
B. Cunliffe & A. + G. Ritchie: Oxford Archaeological Guide, Scotland 1998
ISBN 0-19-288002-0

F. Lynch: Megalithic Tombs and Long Barrows in Britain 1997
ISBN 0-7478-0341-2

E. Shee Twohig: Irish Megalithic Tombs 1990
ISBN 0-7478-0094-4

Jürgen E. Walkowitz: Das Megalithsyndrom. europäische Kultstätten der Steinzeit. Beier & Beran, Langenweißbach 2003,
ISBN 3-930036-70-3
.

[1] J. Müller In: Varia neolithica VI 2009 p. 15

British megalith architecture

Dating

See also

Also included are

References

Literature