2. A monolith is a geological feature consisting of one
massive stone. This stone can also be moved to be
placed in a monument or by itself. A megalith is a large
stone that has been used to create a monumental
structure. It can be unaltered or altered by man.
Stonehenge is made of monoliths and is considered a
megalithic
Structure.
3. Known Monolithic Stones and
Megalithic Structures
• Long Meg and her daughters
• Stonehenge
• Ring of Brodgar
• Adam and Eve longstones
• Rudstone
4. Long Meg and her daughters
This is the third largest stone circle in England that dates
from the Bronze Age. An 18th century legend says that
Meg and her daughters were witches and were turned
into stone by a wizard or saint. However, research
suggests that because the carvings on Long Meg face
away from the circle, it was placed there before the
“daughters” were.
5. Stonehenge
A stone circle dating from around 3100 BC consisting of bluestone, Sarsen, and
Welsh sandstone. It is made up of trilithons in the center circle and continuous
use of lintels on the outer circle. Most lintels are now missing. There is one
large outlier stone known as the Hele/Heel stone that marks the rising of the
sun on the summer solstice (June 21)
6. Ring of Brodgar
Located in Orkney, Ireland, the Ring of Brodgar is a stone circle that is
estimated to be from around 2300 BC. The actual date is not known for certain
because the inner area of the circle still remains to be excavated. The height of
the stones ranges from 7 to 15 feet tall. The stones appear to be of different
types of red sandstone.
7. Adam and Eve Longstones
The larger stone “Adam” is thought to have been a part of a stone cove while
“Eve” was one of the first stones of what was called Beckhampton Avenue.
From the findings of archaeologists, the now non-existant enclosure is thought
to have been built around 2700-2900 BC. This is also thought to be the date of
the creation of the avenue and cove.
8. Rudstone
Unlike all other monoliths, Rudstone is located in a cemetery. It is the largest standing
monolith in England at almost 26 feet tall and is made of gritstone. Gritstone was used in
England as grinding stones to sharpen weapons. The churchyard that it is located in is
about 3000 years younger than the stone. The top looks odd because a lead cap was put
there to keep the tip from further eroding.
9. The understood main purpose behind monolith and
megalithic structures and monuments is usually ritual or religious
based. Because most structures are Neolithic it is not known
what the ritual that took place there was. Most were probably
seasonally based, focusing on the winter and summer solstices.
Because they have been standing for so long, the practices that
take place there have changed throughout time. For example, it
is thought that Stonehenge was once a sacred burial ground
because human bones were found in the surrounding area.
However, later on the Druids used it as a place to perform rituals
celebrating the summer solstice and sometimes human sacrifice.
Overall, they were most likely created for religious purposes.
