This week we are learning about the archaeological site Stonehenge. Stonehenge is a site made up of many large standing stones in a specific pattern or design. These large standing stones are called “menhirs.” Stonehenge might be one of the most famous representation of menhirs, but there are numerous archeological sites of menhirs across the world. Most of them are located in Western Europe, especially in the British Isles, but they extend across the world to Asia, Africa, and South America.
These archeological sites are thought to be constructed for various reasons. Religious ceremonies were conducted at these sites, some of them even had burial sites within the site. Menhirs were sometimes put next to religious buildings.
The Kerloas Menhir is the largest menhir in all of Europe, possibly the whole world. Located in Plouarzel France, it is a single stone standing about 10m (31 feet) tall on the top of a hill. The menhir is slightly oval shaped because of a taper at the top and bottom of the stone, and has a jagged point at the top off to one side. This is due to the stone being hit by lightening roughly 200 years ago. On the two thin sides of the stone there are large bumps, which make this menhir especially unique. The stone also extends beneath the ground. There is a legend that the stone brings fertility and good fortune, so many couples will come here to rub the stone on their wedding day.
There are many sites containing menhirs outside of Europe as well. In Mongolia and Siberia, there are megaliths called “deer stones”. These stones were carved to contain images of reindeer and sometimes other animals, as well as patterns into the granite or greenstone surface. Many of these stones were found together, rather than a single stone at each site. There were remains of animals left at the sites, but not human remains. This could indicate that the animal remains were from ritual sacrifices at the site. Another theory, led by William Fitzhugh, is that stones with a circle on top and a knife and belt lower represent an important human figure. These stones could possibly represent the person’s story.
Stonehenge was the only menhir I really knew about before coming to this class. Researching various menhir sites has shown me that Stonehenge may be the most famous example, but they can be found all across the world. I find it fascinating that numerous cultures used menhirs in similar ways. Maybe it says something about human nature and the way we practice our beliefs or how we show importance.
I did not know what Stonehenge was part of a larger category of cultural artifacts. I thought that it was also really interesting that there were a lot of different sub categories snd I was pleased to learn about them with your descriptions of them all.
I think that my favorite to learn about was the one that was carved in Mongolia and Siberia. The “Deer Stones” sounded really interesting to me because it kind of reminded me of Native american culture and how they have totem poles. Do you think that there is a connection between the significance of the totem pole and these menhirs? Or could they even be classified as one of them?
I think that there is a lot of things that are artifacts for the Native Americans and yet I do not think that many people give them much credit. And the same, I feel like there is not really that much interest in the different kind of Menhirs. Before your post I also did not know about how there were other cultures that had things anything like Stonehenge.
I think that there needs to be more emphasis on things that aren’t as main stream as Stonehenge and the pyramids and things that are very well known and seen very easily.
One thing that I had never heard of before this class was earthworks and yet I think that these are one of the coolest things I have seen. I really enjoy the ones that are detailed and yet you cannot tell until you see them from in an arial view.